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Life of Marion。
present they might now have been cut to pieces； but scarcity of forage had
induced him to quarter them at the distance of six miles。 The enemy rallied
and manoeuvred about in the old field for an hour； making several
different feints of charging； but never coming in reach of Marion's fire；
whose men stood firm at their post。 Capt。 Gillies of the British； and nine
men and five horses were killed。 The number of wounded could not be
accurately ascertained； but as the firing was only at the distance of thirty
paces； and was made with the usual charge of heavy buckshot； the
proportion of these must have been greater than that of the killed on the
usual computation。 （29th Aug。） On the next day； Gen。 Marion called out
Capt。 Witherspoon in front of the brigade； and gave him thanks for his
many public services； but more particularly for the deed of yesterday。
Here ended the warfare of Marion。 Its close was as the last ray of the
setting sun； in his progress through the day； at times shining brightly； at
others clouded with darkness： but at eventide descending with cheerful
brilliancy。 Should the exploits performed； or the number of the enemy cut
off； not equal the expectation of the reader； he is requested to recollect the
lapse of time which has intervened； and how many circumstances must
have escaped the memory of the writer； and particularly； that the loss of
Col。 Watson； with whom Marion had the most arduous of all his conflicts；
could never be known。 He will also bear in mind the patroles which went
out nightly； and seldom failed to do some execution； which like a
perpetual dripping corroded deeply into the force of the enemy。 If the late
Guerilla warfare in Spain cut off so many thousands of the French in detail；
in a comparatively open country； how much more effect would such a
warfare have in woods upon an enemy more weak in proportion and more
slowly reinforced。 Such a warfare is the one most fitted for militia and the
most dreaded by regular troops。 But on the other hand； should it be
thought by some that the present narrative is too highly coloured； the
eulogy of Gen。 Greene； certainly the best judge of Gen。 Marion's merit； is
here inserted； of which it may be remarked； that it was written before the
latter had performed half of what is here related。
Extract of a letter from Gen。 Greene to Gen。 Marion。 〃~Camp； before
Camden； April 24； 1781。~ Dear Sir； Your favour of the 21st has just come
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Life of Marion。
to hand。 When I consider how much you have done and suffered； and
under what disadvantage you have maintained your ground； I am at a loss
which to admire most； your courage and fortitude； or your address and
management。 Certain it is； no man has a better claim to the public thanks
than you。 History affords no instance wherein an officer has kept
possession of a country under so many disadvantages as you have。
Surrounded on every side with a superior force； hunted from every quarter
with veteran troops； you have found means to elude their attempts and to
keep alive the expiring hopes of an oppressed militia； when all succour
seemed to be cut off。 To fight the enemy bravely with the prospect of
victory is nothing； but to fight with intrepidity under the constant
impression of a defeat； and inspire irregular troops to do it； is a talent
peculiar to yourself。 Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to do
justice to your merit； and I shall miss no opportunity of declaring to
congress； the commander in chief of the American army； and to the world；
the great sense I have of your merit and services。〃
The letters of Gen。 Greene show that he was an agreeable polished
gentleman。 Their style is easy； simple and correct； there is no search after
ornament； they come at once to the point and show him to be much in
earnest。 His commands are always requests； and when he might well have
used the language of reprehension； it is only that of persuasion and
friendly admonition。 His privations here were great； perhaps he had not
even the comforts of a common soldier in the British army； yet he states
them fairly； without uttering a word of complaint； hopes they will soon be
remedied； and declares his unalterable perseverance in gaining the
glorious prize constantly in his view the independence of his country。
In reviewing the transactions of the present year； two things passed
which are well worth notice。 Gen。 Alexander Leslie； now commander in
chief of the British army； a gentleman of enlarged views and humane
feelings； had before this time； as it appears； submitted certain papers to
Gen。 Greene； through Capt。 Skelly； for his inspection； preparatory to a
proposal for a cessation of hostilities； and on the 23d of May； writes again
to Greene in substance as follows： 〃Believing that a treaty for terminating
the war is now carrying on； I have therefore to inform you； that those
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Life of Marion。
papers were transmitted to him （Gen。 Leslie） by his excellency Sir Henry
Clinton。 That such was the manner in which those important papers had
reached him； that he held it a duty he owed the rights of humanity； the
welfare of this country； and the sentiments of the legislature of his own； to
propose a cessation of hostilities。〃 Again； on the 13th of August； Leslie
proposed； 〃That the garrison of Charleston should be permitted to receive
rice and other provisions； for which a compensation should be made on
terms of mutual advantage。〃 Both these propositions were at once rejected
by the civil authority of the state； because it was supposed that Leslie only
intended to amass provisions for the support of the British forces in the
West Indies； to carry on war to advantage with our allies the F