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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=.
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 toman'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 futuregenerations may know exactly what part he bore in freeing the coloniesfrom the burdens put upon them by a wicked king, must have some otherexcuse, or reason, than that of self-glorification.
Some such idea as set down above has been in my mind from the momentPercy Sumter--meaning my brother--urged that I make a record of what wedid while serving under General Francis Marion, that ardent patriot andtrue soldier, who was willing to make of himself a cripple rather thanindulge in strong drink.
I question if there be in the Carolinas any one who does not knowfull well the story of that night in Charleston, when, the doorbeing locked upon him in order that he might be forced to drink,General Marion--then only a colonel--leaped from the window, therebydislocating his ankle, rather than indulge in a carousal which to himwas unseemly and ungentlemanly.
This is but a lame beginning to what it is intended I shall tellregarding those days when we two lads, Percy and myself, did, as it haspleased many to say, the work of men in the struggle against foreignrule; yet however crude it may appear to those better versed in the useof the pen, it is the best I can do. My brother and myself went intoGeneral Marion's camp before our fourteenth birthday, and since thattime have studied the art of warfare instead of letters, which factis due to the troublous times rather than our own inclination, for mydesire ever was to improve my mind until I should be at least on equalterms with those lads who were more favored as to country.
First let me set down that of which we two--meaning Percy andmyself--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 andtheir lives to the cause of the independence of the Carolinas. Shemarried 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 theJames family, rather than Sumters, priding ourselves upon that whichevery true Carolinian is ready to declare, that "he who rightfullybears the name of James is always ready for the foe, the first inattack and the last in retreat."
I am coming to the beginning of my story in a halting, and what mayseem a boastful, fashion, yet to my mind there is no other way oftelling plainly what Percy and I were so fortunate as to accomplishunder General Marion, than that of explaining why it was we twolads, less than fourteen years of age, should have been given suchopportunities.
Now I will write particularly of my uncle, the major, in order that itmay be further understood how we lads came to be known as scouts in theservice of the "Swamp Fox," and while so doing much which is alreadywell-known must be repeated.
When the city of Charleston was captured by the British, thousands ofCarolinians who were true to the cause of independence voluntarily madeof themselves exiles, despairing of being able to wrest their nativecolonies from the hands of the king, and willing to assist those in thenorth whose possibilities seemed bright.
To the men who were left at home, the proclamation of Sir HenryClinton, offering pardon to the inhabitants and a reinstatement of alltheir 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 uparms against those of the northern colonies who were yet holding theirown against oppression, the condition of affairs seemed suddenly tohave changed, and the gentlemen of the Carolinas asked themselves howthese two proclamations could bear relationship.
Such question could only be answered by those high in authority underthe king, and that the matter might be made plain, the people ofWilliamsburg, in the colony of South Carolina, chose my uncle, MajorJohn James, to represent them in asking for an explanation.
The nearest post was at Georgetown, and the commandant one CaptainArdesoif.
To this officer my uncle presented himself with the question as towhat might be meant by the demand that the people of South Carolina"submit themselves to the king," and if, after having done so to thesatisfaction of his majesty, they would be allowed to remain at theirhomes.
The British captain was one who looked upon the colonists generally asslaves who should be whipped into subjection, rather than men who wereable and willing to defend their lives, and taking such view of theCarolinians, 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 youtake up arms in his cause."
Had this redcoated captain known my uncle better, he might haveselected his words with greater wisdom; but, unacquainted with ourfamily, he could have made no greater mistake, and proud am I to setdown that which I know to be my uncle's answer:
"Sir, the people whom I am come to represent will scarcely submit tosuch condition."
Then it was that Captain Ardesoif flew into a passion, giving no heedto the possibility that it might be dangerous to allow his tongue freerein.
"Represent!" he cried in a fury. "You insolent rebel, if you da
re speakin such language I will have you hung up at the yard-arm," and theredcoated captain pointed to his ship, which lay in the harbor.
I had never set myself down as a member of the James family if suchwords had been allowed to pass unnoticed, but those who know my unclecould 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 isworn by us of Williamsburg, carried no weapons. This fact, however, hadno weight with Major James.
Seizing the chair upon which he sat he rushed upon the insolentBritisher, striking him senseless with a single blow, and then makinghis escape at once, for the king's soldiers were there in force, hemounted 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 oftrue gentlemen and noble soldiers who were afterward known, and thememory of whom will live so long as the history of these colonies aretold, as "Marion's Brigade."
It was the major, as a matter of course, who took command of thesevolunteers, and they were divided into four companies, each under acaptain.
The first was led by William M'Cottry; Henry Mouzon had command of thesecond. John of the Lake--another branch of the James family, and anuncle to the major--was captain of the third, while John McCauley stoodat the head of the fourth division.
These gentlemen, who had come together within less than four and twentyhours after my uncle's interview with the representative of his majestyat Georgetown were all residents of the district of Williamsburg, andwere rendezvoused on the banks of Lynch's Creek nearby where it joinsthe 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 thedays to come shall read what I am so lamely doing, may understandhow it chanced that we two lads played so important a part--forcircumstances put it in our way to do good work--in the struggle whichfinally 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 wehad, and watched keenly the movements of this brigade which my unclecommanded, expecting that such deeds of valor would be performed by himand his soldiers as must give new impetus to the Cause throughout allthe colonies.
Then, to our great surprise, we learned that General Marion wasappointed chief over the forces raised in the Williamsburg district,and our hearts were filled with disappointment because it appeared tous that thereby had Major James lost the opportunity to show himselfthe valiant and skillful officer we believed him to be.
As a matter of course we had heard much regarding this soldier wholeaped out of a window at the expense of breaking his bones, ratherthan join a party of gentlemen in their drinking, and were burning withcuriosity, which as I have said, was mixed with deep disappointment, toknow what kind of an appearance he might present.
The men of the command were by no means as captious regarding him as wetwo nephews of the man whom we believed to be the rightful commander.
Those Carolinians who took part in the defense of Charleston knew himto be a brave colonel, and expected much of him as a general; but welads were more than disappointed in the appearance of the soldier whohad already made for himself a worthy name.
We saw a small, swarthy gentleman, walking with a decided limp, wearinga round-bodied, crimson jacket, and, perched upon his head was aleathern cap ornamented with a silver crescent on which were inscribedthe words "liberty or death."
While we were not disposed to compare the king's soldiers with our ownbrave men to the disparagement of the latter, we had seen officers frommany countries, and had rather more than a vague idea of what a uniformshould be. Therefore this grotesque costume--for I can call it by noother name--impressed us unfavorably, although in a very few days wecame to learn better than ever before that something more than clothesare 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, somecarrying shot-guns and others muskets, while M'Cottry's company wereprovided with small-bore rifles. Each man had, perhaps, his horn filledwith powder; but no more than that, and, as I have heard my uncle saytime and time again, when the brigade first went into camp there wasnot of ammunition sufficient to sustain an engagement lasting half anhour.
The variety of missiles was as great as that of weapons. A few hadmuskets or rifle balls which they themselves had molded; others carriedbuck-shot, and some were provided only with bird-shot.
As for swords, bayonets and pikes, we had none, and the first orderwhich General Marion issued after arriving at Lynch's Creek, caused meto have a higher opinion of him than I had at first believed would bepossible.
Word was given that the force disperse in squads of from five toa dozen men, and set about sacking the saw mills in the immediatevicinity. Nothing was to be taken away from them save the saws, andthese it was proposed should be beaten by the blacksmiths of thedistrict into sabres.
Now in such work as this two lads like Percy and myself could do asmuch as men, and, without asking the privilege of volunteering, we setout, forming an "independent command of two," as Percy put it, boundfor a certain mill owned by one Pingree, who had announced again andagain that a Carolinian who would set himself in defiance against theking deserved nothing better than hanging.
It was no brave adventure which we started upon, and yet it led to ourbeing brought into direct, and I might almost say close, contact withGeneral Marion himself.
There was little need that we two lads should ask permission from ourmother to join in the work of saw gathering, for the major was at thehead of the family in good truth, and whatsoever he might do, was, inthe opinion of even the most distant relatives, worthy of being copied.
It was only necessary Percy and I should announce that we counted onaiding the major so far as might be possible, and our mother at oncesaw that we were provided with such amount of provisions as would serveto keep hunger at bay during at least two days.
Perhaps my uncle might have objected to the plan had he been informedof it; but such information we were not minded to give lest the ventureshould be a failure, and we become a butt for his mirth.
Therefore it was we set out secretly, so to speak, armed with therifles which during no less than half a dozen years had served us inall 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 upto, there is no reason why I should use many words in the telling ofit. Suffice it to say that after a tramp of ten miles or more, whenwe had crossed the Pedee River at Port's Ferry and were at Pingree'sMills, we learned, greatly to our surprise and considerably to ourfear, that we should not be allowed to dismantle the building.
There we were met by a lad of our acquaintance whose home was inKingstree. Samuel Lee was the name of this fellow, with whom we hadhad little intercourse because of his associating much with the king'ssoldiers; there had never been any bad blood between us, but we heldaloof from him, and now I was less inclined than ever to give him myconfidence.
He was curious to know what brought us so far from home, and on ourpart we wondered what had led him out of the district.
Neither Percy nor I had any particular reason to fear Sam Lee; yetinstinctively we closed our mouths on his approach, which was at thevery 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 offamiliarity which Percy at once resented by closing his mouth closely,while I, little dreaming what information it was possible for him togive, replied in a tone intended to repel his advances:
"Any game whic
h 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 bedone, I put a curb upon my tongue and spoke him fairly, even against myinclination.
"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 atone which caused me to believe it was within his power to give someinformation 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 oftheir 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 wascapable of carrying it out, else the cowardly lad who called himself aLoyalist would never have spoken so boldly.
There was a similar thought in Percy's mind, as I understood from themeaning look he gave me, and then I was resolved to know all Sam Leecould tell.
By way of provoking him to further speech I said boastingly:
"If you know of another family hereabout who have greater reason to beproud of its members, than ours, I would like much to hear the name."
"Those who are wrapped up in their own conceit fail oftentimes ofseeing the good which is in others, and I have heard it said that notone of the James tribe would admit that even the king was higher inposition than he."
"You might have heard it said with equal truth that not a James, or atrue Carolinian would admit that such a king as now claims the rightto rule over us, was even our equal." Percy replied hotly, and thisseditious remark had the effect which I was hoping to bring about.
It stirred Sam Lee to anger, and he cried menacingly, but taking goodcare meanwhile to move off at a safe distance.
"Before many days you will learn that the James family cannot even takecare 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 suddena lesson?"
"The major is at Britton's Neck!" Sam cried triumphantly. "In commandof a body of Loyalists so large that the people of Williamsburg willsoon 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 everbeen found in the Carolinas," Percy cried, now almost boiling withrage.
"It may be that you Sumter lads, who hang to the skirts of Major Jamesbecause of the great deeds he claims to be able to perform, have yetmuch to learn regarding the Loyalists of the Carolinas! What say you totwo thousand well-armed and well-drilled men?"
"Two thousand?" Percy repeated with a laugh of scorn. "You know fullwell, Sam Lee, that such a number of Tories cannot be gathered in thesecolonies."
"There is at this moment, ready to march upon your wonderful GeneralMarion, near to that number of men, and before a week has passed everyJames 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 youso far afield from those of your kidney? After all that has taken placein this colony, a Tory would do well to have a care over his steps lesthe blunder into evil," and now it was that I began to lose control overmy temper.
"It is you who are blundering, Bob Sumter, for I have but to raise myvoice and an hundred soldiers will answer me."
Percy laughed derisively; but I am willing to confess that there wassomething very like timorousness in my heart as the Tory lad spoke, forI knew full well he had not dared say so much unless friends were closeat hand.
Now I felt positive there were no such number of Tories under MajorGainey as Sam Lee had said, yet was I equally certain there must be astrong gathering in the neighborhood, and he would have been a dull ladindeed who could not realize how important it was that my uncle, themajor, have immediate information regarding the assembly.
Once this fact had gained lodgment in my mind I was burning withanxiety to retrace my steps.
There was no longer any desire in us to bring back a goodly store ofsaws that our neighbors might praise us for having been industrious.
There remained only the question of leaving Sam Lee as quickly as mightbe, 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 furtherweight to his argument, the fellow launched forth in praises of thisvast body of Tories who were to work us of Williamsburg so much injury.
My impatience increased until it seemed no longer possible to standthere listening to what was little less than threats, and, seizingPercy 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 behoovesus to retrace our steps before sunset, more particularly if there areso many traitors to their country in this vicinity as you would have usbelieve. We bid you good-day, and trust that the time may speedily comewhen it will not be so simple a matter to part company."
As the Tory spoke, Percy leaped upon him.--Page 28]
"You may be certain that day is near at hand," he replied in a menacingtone. "Before a week has passed I venture to predict the king's enemiesin Williamsburg will be under close guard, powerless to say when theywill go or come."
As the Tory spoke Percy wrenched himself free from my grasp, and leapedupon him.
To flog such a coward as Sam Lee was a simple matter, and I steppedaside 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 outthe punishment which was merited, it was a duty which could not withhonor be avoided.
Sam shrieked lustily, and before he had received half a dozenwell-aimed blows I heard a great trampling in the underbrush; then cameinto view two score or more of men in the king's uniform, and for aninstant I believed that the Tory's threat was about to be made good.