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The party under Major John Postell； which was ordered out on the
29th January in this year； and succeeded in taking eleven British waggons
with soldiers' clothing at Keithfield； consisted with the officers；
commanding of thirty…eight men。* They carried off what clothing they
could； and what they could not they burnt。 What was carried away was
sold for a division； and bought in； as it appears； in continental dollars； on
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Life of Marion。
the 2d February； 1781。
* This statement is confusing。 To paraphrase； Postell's party （which
made this attack） consisted of thirty…eight supernumerary officers。 A。 L。；
1997。
The prices of a few are inserted； sixteen blankets were sold。 1 Bought
by Major Postell for 1590 1 do。 Capt。 Wm。 Capers 2200 1 do。 （the lowest
priced） by Capt。 Thomas Potts； 900 1 Loaf of sugar； Francis Greene； 2000
1 Coat by Capt。 Capers； 6210 1 Knife and fork； A。 Simons； 700 1 Pair of
Stockings； Capt。 Capers； 800 &c。 &c。 &c。
Most of this party were supernumerary officers； who placed
themselves under the command of Major （then Captain） Postell； who was
justly considered as one of the most enterprising officers in Marion's
brigade。 Of these thirty…eight men； the only survivor is Richard Greene；
who has been long a respectable and opulent planter on Black river。 The
account of sales is in the hand writing of Capt。 Thomas Potts。 There is a
list of the names of the thirty…eight； many of whom fought then and
afterwards with great bravery。 John Futhey； then a lieutenant； after being
promoted to a captaincy was killed in a skirmish at Avant's ferry on Black
river。 Thomas Potts； jun。 a lieutenant； was twice wounded。 John M‘Bride；
father of the late friend of the author； Dr。 James M‘Bride； was always at
his post。 What a loss to science was the early death of the son？ Capt。 Wm。
Capers was imprisoned by Balfour in the upper story of his ~provost~； and
made his escape by slipping past the keeper at night when he brought their
scanty supper to the prisoners。 He had then to descend a steep flight of
stairs and pass the guard at the bottom。 Luckily he stumbled at the head of
the stairs and fell to the bottom； and the guard mistaking him for the
keeper； raised him up and gave him much consolation。 He had only to
refrain from speaking and to utter a few groans； which being an indistinct
tone of the voice； made no discovery； and the guard suffered him to pass。
A friend furnished him with a small boat to pass Cooper river； but now the
difficulty was to get through the British guard ships which lined the river。
Being a pretty good mimic； he bethought himself of assuming the
character of a drunken sailor ~going on board his own ship~； and acted his
part so admirably well； that he was suffered； though often threatened； to
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Life of Marion。
pass through the whole fleet。 Capt。 Capers lost no time in joining Gen。
Marion； with whom he fought bravely in the ranks until the general
advanced down into St。 Thomas' parish； where he commanded a company；
and where he had left property at the mercy of the enemy。* Capt。 Wm。
Capers； and his brother G。 Sinkler Capers； were often afterwards the terror
of the enemy； who had early oppressed and imprisoned them； for G。 S。
Capers had also made his escape from the ~provost~。
* The following is a curious fact in natural history。 When Capt。 G。 S。
Capers returned to his plantation in 1782； it had been completely stripped
of all live stock and poultry； except one cock。 When the British chased him
he had always taken refuge under a kitchen low to the ground。 This bird
was carefully preserved。 After the war； it was the fashion for ladies to wear
scarlet cloaks； and so strong was his recollection （must it be so called） of
the colour of the British uniform； that whenever he saw ladies in scarlet
cloaks； he would squall out； as such birds usually do at sight of danger；
and run directly under the kitchen。
Francis G。 Deliesseline； the present sheriff of Charleston district；
joined Marion when a boy； and made if possible a still more surprising and
narrow escape out of the same ~provost~； but as the narrative would
expose certain names which he wishes concealed； he has declined giving it
publicity。 At so early an age； none behaved better than Deliesseline； and
no one has refreshed the author's memory more in the detail of facts of
that period。
Many of the privates of Marion's brigade were men of character and
honour； most of them lost their fortunes by the war； and many made them；
or at least handsome competencies； after it； but it is believed that more；
cast out of the ways of industry and economy； and losing their all； sunk
under the pressure brought upon them。 Where they are known； what an
injustice would it be to pass over the merits of such men？ On the
monument erected by the Greeks at Thermopylae； the names of Leonidas
and his three hundred men were not inscribed； because it was thought
impossible to imagine they could ever be forgotten。
Pardon me； ye sons of my fellow soldiers！ should my memory be
found not so tenacious； and should I have passed over the merits of many
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Life of Marion。
of your fathers without even a shade of remembrance。
Chapter IV。
CAMPAIGN OF 1782。
The military history of this year； is not remarkable for any great events；
but the most material of these happened in the brigade of Marion。 As they
are not altogether of a pleasant nature； it appears to have been the wish of
many to bury them in oblivion； and therefore some of them have been
suppressed； and others but slightly recorded。 But； the correspondence
gives dates and hints； which bring the whole to recollection； and it is the
duty of the biographer to be impartial。 It was hoped that he might have
avoided saying any thing more about the dispute which arose between
Cols。 Peter Horry and Maham； but； as that dis