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Life of Marion。
Life of Marion。
DOBEIN JAMES。
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Life of Marion。
Preface。
During the siege of Charleston； in May； 1780； the grammar school at
Salem； on Black river； where I had been placed by my father； Major JOHN
JAMES； broke up； and I was compelled to abandon my school boy studies；
and become a militia man； at the age of fifteen。 At that time of life it was a
great loss； but still I was so fortunate as to have General MARION as my
commander； and my much honoured father； who was a sincere christian；
as my adviser and protector。 I do not intend to write a history of my own
life； but it was thus； that I became in a great measure an eye witness of the
scenes hereafter described； and what I did not see； I often heard from
others in whom confidence could be placed。 I felt an early inclination to
record these events； but Major WEMYSS burnt all my stock of paper； and
my little classical library； in my father's house； and； for two years and a
half afterwards； I had not the common implements of writing or of reading。
This may appear strange at present； but it is a fact； that even our general；
when sending out a patrole； would request the officer to try to get him a
quire of paper。 After the war； other active pursuits prevented me from
indulging my inclination； and the public attention； being long fixed upon
the bloody wars and great battles in Europe； had lost all relish for our
revolutionary history； and its comparatively little conflicts。 However；
when Dr。 RAMSAY announced that he was about to publish his history of
South Carolina； I hastily sketched out from memory a short history of
MARION'S brigade； for him； which he inserted in fifteen pages of his first
volume。 This brings it down no lower than the arrival of General
GREENE in South Carolina。 Fortunately the events of the late war revived
the national spirit； and with that a taste for our own history； by it too； my
inclination was renewed to communicate that of MARION'S brigade。
However； I still wanted materials to confide in more certain than memory。
The last year I happened to mention my wish to Mr。 RICHARD
SINGELLTON； of Colleton； son…in…law of Major JOHN POSTELL； and
he obligingly placed in my hands a bundle of original letters from General
MARION to that distinguished officer。 Not long after I heard that the late
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Life of Marion。
General PETER HORRY had preserved copies of General MARION'S
correspondence with General GREENE and other officers； and I applied to
his executor； Mr。 JAMES GUIGNARD； who very politely placed five
duodecimo volumes in my hands； closely written by the general。 The
originals were left by General HORRY with the Rev。 M。 L。 WEEMS； but
it appears he made no use of them in his life of MARION。 The dates and
facts stated in these copies agree pretty well with the account in the history
of South Carolina by Dr。 RAMSAY； and General MOULTRIE'S memoirs
of the American revolution。
I have also taken the pains to consult several of MARION'S officers
and men； who still survive。 The Hon。 THOMAS WATIES gave me
considerable information respecting the first part of the general's
operations； which I did not witness； as； after MARION'S retreat to the
White marsh； I was left sick in North Carolina。 During MARION'S
struggle with WATSON I had returned； but was confined to my bed with
the small pox； and the greater part of that account was received from
Captain GAVIN WITHERSPOON； ROBERT WITHERSPOON； Esq。 and
others。 Respecting the affairs about Camden； General CANTEY and Dr。
BROWNFIELD gave me much information； and the present sheriff of
Charleston district； FRANCIS G。 DELIESSELINE； Esq。 and myself have
compared notes ~generally~ on the subject。
Of all these sources of information I have availed myself； besides
having recourse to every account of the events of that period which I had it
in my power to consult。 This； I hope； will account satisfactorily for any
departures made from the statement I furnished Dr。 RAMSAY。
There are no doubt many errors in my narrative； as nothing human is
exempt from them； but it is believed there are not more than usually occur
in what is considered accurate history。 It may also need correction in other
matters； and it may not be pregnant with great events； but still it is a kind
of domestic history； which teaches lessons of patience and patriotism； not
surpassed in modern； and seldom in ancient times。
WM。 DOBEIN JAMES。
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Life of Marion。
Introduction。
A view of the first settlement of the French Protestants on the Santee。
Lawson's account of them。 The ancestors of General Marion emigrate
among them。
The revocation of the edict of Nantz； by Lewis XIV。； though highly
detrimental to France； proved beneficial to Holland； England and other
European countries； which received the protestant refugees； and
encouraged their arts and industry。 The effects of this unjust and bigoted
decree； extended themselves likewise to North America； but more
particularly to South Carolina： About seventeen years after its first
settlement； in the year 1690； and a short time subsequently； between
seventy and eighty French families； fleeing from the bloody persecution
excited against them in their mother country； settled on the banks of the
Santee。 Among these were the ancestors of General FRANCIS MARION。
These families extended themselves at first only from the lower ferry at
South Santee； in St。 James' parish； up to within a few miles of Lenud's
ferry； and back from the river into the parish of St。 Dennis； called the
Orange quarter。 From their first settlement； they appear to have conciliated
their neighbours； the Sewee and Santee Indians； and to have submitted to
their rigorous fate with that resignation and che