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Cols。 Peter Horry and Maham； but； as that dispute terminated in unhappy
consequences； it becomes necessary that they should be developed。 Gen。
Marion was returned； at the elections which took place for the
Jacksonborough assembly； a member of the senate for St。 John's； Berkley。
Being about to take his seat； he gave the immediate command of the
brigade to Col。 Peter Horry；* subject to his future order。 Of this order； all
that is necessary to state here； is as follows： 〃You will take command of
my brigade until I return。 You will keep the guards at Cainhoy and
Fogartie's。 Their orders are to prevent any boats or persons from going to
or from town； without a written pass from me or yourself。 Col。 Maham's
corps will be ordered to Mepkin； to remain there until my further orders。〃
As the enemy got most of their intelligence from persons； more especially
women； going to and from town； this part of the order was very material。
In the mean time application was made by Gen。 Marion to Greene to
decide this unhappy dispute between the colonels； and； in a conciliating
letter； he decided it in favour of Horry。 （16th Jan。） On the 18th of January；
Gen。 Marion writes to Horry： 〃I send you Gen。 Greene's letter in answer to
mine； sent him as soon as I arrived here； and it is determined as I expected。
You will keep the letter； and if the enemy should approach your quarters；
and you find it necessary； you must call on Col。 Maham's troops and horse；
as reinforcements； and I wish he may not be called upon for any other
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Life of Marion。
purpose。〃 In a letter from Col。 Maham to Horry； of the 20th of January； it
is to be inferred that the latter had immediately called upon him for a
return of his corps； and to submit to his orders； for he answers； 〃I cannot
think of being commanded by an officer of the same rank。 I think it proper
not to make you any return of my regiment； and I shall not obey any order
you may be pleased to send。〃 It appears from a subsequent letter of
Maham's of the same date； that Gen。 Marion had not written to him
concerning the determination of Gen。 Greene； but Gen。 Marion's order；
both then and subsequently； was certainly sufficient to convince him he
ought to submit。 After this Col。 Horry writes to Gen。 Marion： 〃Col。
Maham interferes with my command so much that I can scarcely act； he
gave passes to several ladies to go to town without my leave； and they
accordingly went in a boat； which boat has since returned； and the ladies
have since come up。〃 And again； 〃I assure you your presence is much
wanted。 Your brigade lessens daily。〃 （31st Jan。） On the 3d of February；
Marion answers： 〃I am surprised at Col。 Maham's interference with your
command。 I have written him positive orders not to do so in any respect
whatever； and was in hopes Gen。 Greene would have prevented such evils
before this。〃 But from a former letter of Gov。 Rutledge； which is a
philippic against Horry； and the subsequent determination of Gov。
Matthews； it is evident that Maham had got the civil authority on his side；
and he did not regard the general's。 And thus it is； when civilians interfere
with military affairs that they invariably commit blunders。 Having
premised these facts； to show that in Marion's absence there was naught
but discord and dissention； we now proceed to state the consequences。
* Marion's letter to Horry； 10th January。
Almost the whole of the warfare was henceforth carried on in St。
Thomas' and St。 James'； Santee。 About this time； Col。 Richard Richardson
commanded the post at Cainhoy。 A British galley lay in the river Wando；
which he watched； and patroled the road down to Daniel's island by day；
and returned into the woods and lay without fire by night。 A fortnight after
he was posted there； hearing of a party of British which had landed at
Daniel's island； he immediately sent out scouts to the causeway over to the
island； and wrote for a reinforcement。 In the morning Maham's horse
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Life of Marion。
arrived； four troops in uniform； and fully equipt； but their colonel； who
would have been ranked by Richardson； was not present； and they were
under the command of Maj。 Giles。 The British took the Strawberry road；
and about noon stopped at Bishop Smith's； Brabant； about fourteen miles
up the road。 To the north of that plantation is a swamp of considerable
width； with a causeway and bridge。 Beyond the causeway； on the right
going up； was a fence on a bank and a ditch behind it； with trees in front。
Richardson passed the swamp above； and going down to the hill above
this fence； immediately went to reconnoitre； but came back with a British
troop and Capt。 Campbell at his heels。 He ordered a charge。 At the
commencement of the onset it was easy to be seen that Maham's corps had
not yet been trained。 They charged in some disorder； but at first drove the
British horse easily before them。 At the bridge they met the British
infantry； who gave them a volley。 All was now confusion； horses and men
wedged together upon a narrow causeway。 The front striving to retreat；
and the rear urging them on。 The British horse being rallied； now came in
to aid the infantry； and a total rout and scene of carnage ensued。 Of
Maham's officers； Capt。 Samuel Cooper rallied his men； and returning to
the road； saved several lives and drove back a troop of black dragoons。 In
this affair the six months men particularly suffered。 Being near the road
when the rout commenced； they wheeled their lean horses and ran directly
up it； consequently they were trampled down by both parties。 Capt。
Bennett； with twelve men； after having been pursued by a party of British；
double his number； and stopped by an impassable creek； when inspiring
his men with courage； and setting the example； they wheeled about and
drove back the enemy。 In the course of this day； G。 S。 Capers took three
swords from the British in single rencounters； and Gen。 Marion promo