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Gibson； who killed Col。 Kolb； and Fanning and his party were excepted；
but they escaped。 Fanning was properly of North Carolina； but
occasionally acted with Ganey； and was one of the most active men； and
one of the most deliberate murderers of the whole party。 But little defence
had been made by the tories； only one skirmish took place； in which the
general's friend； Robert James； was wounded； and at the Bowling Green；
between Great and Little Pedee； at least five hundred men laid down their
arms to Gen。 Marion。 Thus ended an opposition to the country； which
commenced more from the desire of plunder than from principle； and
which； except with regard to sex； and some to age； had been carried on in
the true spirit of savage warfare。 Of Harrison's party； many had gone with
him to the British； with those who remained a species of warfare was
waged even after the peace with Great Britain。
* Capt。 Crafton's letter to Marion； 13th June； 1782。
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Life of Marion。
During Gen。 Marion's absence； Gen。 Greene appears； from the
correspondence； to have been very anxious for his return。 After the
adjournment of the Jacksonborough assembly； he had crossed the Edisto
and encamped on the west side of Ashley river； sixteen miles from
Charleston； and here the sufferings of his men had risen to the utmost
extremity。 They were often without rations； and when served； it was
generally with lean meat without bread or rice； or bread or rice without the
lean meat。 They had as yet received no pay； and their clothes were so worn
and broken； that they were as naked as the Caffres of Africa。 Here； in a
state of inaction； they became mutinous； and were plotting to deliver up
their commander to the enemy。 But it is surprising； that when mischief of
any kind began to brew in such a situation； that only twelve should have
been concerned in it； and it is honourable that none of those were native
Americans。
About the 9th of July； Gen。 Marion had returned to the Santee； and
received orders from Gen。 Greene to remain between that and Cooper
river； as heretofore。 The militia were now so far relieved； that； by law； they
were obliged to turn out only one month in three； but were ordered； as we
have mentioned above； to be dismounted； which discouraged them； and
rendered their movements less rapid。 The experience derived both from
the history of the revolutionary and the late war； fully shows that the
militia are effective only when mounted。
On the 25th of August； in this year； Lieut。 Col。 John Laurens was
killed in a skirmish at Page's point； on Combahee river。 He fell in the
flower of his youth； and yet had long been the admiration of both the
contending armies。 In history the parallel to his character is perhaps to be
found only in that of the Chevalier Bayard： the knight without fear and
without reproach。
During the remainder of the summer of 1782； Gen。 Marion frequently
changed his encampments from place to place； between Cooper and
Santee rivers； with three objects constantly in view； to cut off supplies
from the enemy； to prevent all surprises from their sudden irruptions； and
to provide for his own men。 His scouting parties still penetrated into St。
Thomas' parish as far as Daniel's island and Clement's ferry。 At the head of
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Life of Marion。
one of these Capt。 G。 S。 Capers performed a gallant action。 Having the
command of only twelve men； he encountered a party of twenty…six of the
British black dragoons； and cut them to pieces。 They had at the time two
or three of his neighbours in handcuffs as prisoners。
About the 25th of August in that year； Marion lay for some time at the
plantation of Sir John Colleton； the first above Watboo bridge； on the
south side of that creek。 This with him appeared to be a favourite place of
encampment。 It had been deserted by the owner； who was attached to the
enemy； and the mansion and two extensive ranges of negro and other
outhouses were left open for himself and men。 He occupied the mansion
and his men the outhouses； on the west towards the bridge； on the back of
the outhouses to the east； and directly in front of the dwelling； there
stretched towards the road an extensive avenue of old cedar trees； the
trimming of which had been neglected for some years； and their long
boughs now descended nearly to the ground。 While encamped in this
situation； Gen。 Marion heard of the approach of Major Fraser with the
British cavalry； towards the Santee； in his rear。 On this side there was
nothing but an open old field for a mile。 None but the officers now had
horses； and he immediately ordered out a party of these； under Capt。
Gavin Witherspoon； to reconnoitre the enemy。 They had advanced but
little way in the woods beyond the old field； when the reconnoitring party
were met by Major Fraser at the head of his corps of cavalry； and were
immediately charged。 A long chase commenced； which was soon observed
by Marion； and he drew up his men under the thick boughs of the cedar
trees。 As the chase advanced towards him it became more and more
interesting。 When in full view； either Witherspoon's horse had failed him；
or he fell purposely in the rear to bring up his party； and a British dragoon
was detached to cut him down。 He advanced until nearly within his
sword's length； and was rising in his stirrups to make sure of his blow； but
Witherspoon had eyed him well； and at the instant； Parthian like； he fired
the contents of his gun into his breast。 The good omen excited much
animation； and the British； still advancing； attempted to charge upon the
left； but were received on that side with a well directed fire； which caused
them to break and fly in great disorder。 Had Gen。 Marion's cavalry been
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