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could find； but still Marion kept him in a bad humour； （as his letters from
that place indicate；） and his regulars in a constant panic。 Here he remained
for more than a week* in inactivity and irresolution； perhaps he waited for
Doyle to make an impression at Snow's island； but if Marion heard of
Doyle； he kept it a profound secret。 While Blakely's and Witherspoon's
provisions lasted； his present plan answered pretty well； but when they
failed； it became necessary to have more at a greater distance； and these
could not be obtained； but by daily skirmishes。 In these Capt。 Conyers was
greatly distinguished。 He was most daring； and sat and managed his horse
so remarkably well； that as was the case with the centaur of old； they
might have been taken for one animal。 Conyers was at this time fighting
under the auspicious eye of a young lady；** to whom his faith had been
plighted； and beneath her alternate smiles and fears； he presented himself
daily before the lines of the enemy； either as a single champion； or at the
head of his troop。 Often did she hear them repeat； 〃Take care！ there is Capt。
Conyers！〃 It was a ray of chivalry athwart the gloom of unrelenting
warfare。
* About ten days； as it appears from the dates of his letters。 ** This
young lady was Mary； the second daughter of John Witherspoon； who
after the war； was married to Conyers。 One day when her lover made his
appearance as usual； a British officer made use of language disrespectful
to him； which she bore for some time with patience； at last he said
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Life of Marion。
something indelicate to herself。 She immediately drew off a walking shoe
from her foot； and flung it in his face； saying； 〃coward！ go meet him。〃 In
those days kid slippers were not fashionable。
To increase the panic of the British； Serjt。 M‘Donald； with a rifle； shot
Lieut。 Torriano through the knee； at the distance of three hundred yards。
This appears to have softened even the proud spirit of Watson； for； on the
15th of March； he wrote a letter to Marion； stating； 〃we have an officer
and some men wounded； whom I should be glad to send where they could
be better taken care of。 I wish； therefore； to know if they will be permitted
to pass to Charleston。〃 Gen。 Marion wrote for a list of them； and next day
sent the following pass： 〃Gen。 Marion's pass； granted to Lieut。 Torriano
and twelve privates。 One officer and six wounded men； with six
attendants； of the British troops； are permitted to pass to Nelson's ferry；
thence to Charleston； unmolested；〃 &c。 Col。 Watson was now literally
besieged； his supplies were cut off on all sides； and so many of his men
killed； that； he is said by tradition； to have sunk them in Black river to hide
their number。 There is a quarry of rock in the neighbourhood of the place；
and the only one in that part of the country； where； it is said； he sunk his
men。 At length Watson； decamping； made a forced march down the
Georgetown road； but paused at Ox swamp； six miles below the lower
bridge。 On each side of the road there was then a thick； boggy swamp
trees were felled across the causeway three bridges were destroyed； and
Marion was watching him with the eye of an eagle。 Thus situated； and
having to force a more difficult pass at Johnson's swamp； ten miles ahead；
Watson most prudently wheeled to the right； and passed on； through open
piney woods； to the Santee road； distant about fifteen miles。 When
overtaken by Marion upon this road； his infantry were passing like horses
at a full trot。 Here he had not so many obstacles to encounter as on the
other road； and； by wheeling covertly and marching so briskly； had gained
considerable ground。 However； Col。 Peter Horry now advanced ahead
with the cavalry and riflemen； and annoyed him in flank and in front；
while Marion attacked in the rear； until they reached Sampit bridge； where
the last skirmish took place。 News from Doyle appears to have arrested
Marion's progress； and summoned him to new perils。
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Life of Marion。
Watson reached Georgetown； with two waggon loads of wounded
men。* It is evident from an intercepted letter of his of the 20th of March；
that he had been hemmed in so closely that he was in want of every thing；
and had taken this route to Georgetown； fifty miles out of his way； to
obtain supplies。 From Fort Watson to the lower bridge； he had not
advanced more than forty miles on his premeditated route to join Doyle。
* Horry's Narrative。
In the mean time； Col。 Doyle； an active； enterprising officer； had
driven Col。 Ervin； who commanded only a weak guard； from Snow's
island。 But before retreating he had Marion's arms； stores and ammunition
thrown into Lynch's creek。 This； at the crisis； was a most serious loss。
From Sampit； Gen。 Marion marched back towards Snow's island； on
the way he received intelligence that Doyle lay at Witherspoon's ferry； and
he proceeded forthwith to attack him。 Doyle had taken a position on the
north side of the ferry； and when M‘Cottry； in advance； with his mounted
riflemen； arrived at the creek； the British were scuttling a ferry boat on the
opposite side。 He took a position behind trees； and gave them a well
directed and deadly fire； they ran to their arms and returned a prodigious
volley； which did no more harm than that of knocking off the limbs of
trees among the riflemen。 Doyle had received news； which occasioned him
to retreat for Camden。 The ferry boat being now scuttled and sunk on the
opposite side； and Lynch's creek being swollen； and at this place wide and
deep； Gen。 Marion proceeded up the creek； and swam over it at the first
place he reached； five miles above Witherspoon's。 This was the shortest
route to come at Doyle。 He pursued all that day； and the next morning till
nine or ten o'clock； when he came to a house where Doyle had destroyed
all his heavy baggage； and had proceeded on with great celerity towards
Camden。 This seemed mysterious at the time； but here Marion halted。
It appears from what follows； shortly； as well as from Horry's account；