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that Col。 Baker or Capt。 Snipes should pretend that they had my directions
for crossing the Santee。 I beg you will encourage the militia and engage
them to continue their exertions。 If the supplies expected from the
northward arrive in season； we shall be able to assist you。 The movements
of the enemy were so rapid； that few of the militia joined us on our march
from Pedee； which reduced us to the necessity of passing the Dan； or
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Life of Marion。
risking an action on very unequal terms。 The enemy are upon the banks of
the river； but the people of this country appear to be in earnest。 I hope we
shall soon be able to push Lord Cornwallis in turn。 I wrote to you from
Guilford； which I hope you have received。
I am； dear Sir； Your most obedient servant； N。 Greene。
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Gen。 Marion to Lieut。 Col。 Balfour。
~Santee； March 7； 1781。~
Sir；
I sent Capt。 John Postell with a flag to exchange some prisoners；
which Capt。 Saunders； commandant of Georgetown； had agreed to； but
contrary to the law of nations； he has been seized and detained as a
prisoner。 As I cannot imagine that his conduct will be approved of by you；
I hope orders will be immediately given to have my flag discharged； or I
must immediately acquaint congress of this violation。 The ill consequence
of which it is now in your power to prevent。 I am sorry to complain of the
ill treatment my officers and men meet with from Capt。 Saunders； the
officers are closely employed in a small place； where they can neither
stand or lie at length； nor have they more than half rations。 I have treated
your officers and men who have fallen into my hands in a different manner。
Should these evils not be prevented in future； it will not be in my power to
prevent retaliation。 Lord Rawdon and Col。 Watson have hanged three men
of my brigade for supposed crimes； which will make as many of your men
in my hands suffer。 I hope this will be prevented in future； for it is my
wish to act with humanity and tenderness to those unfortunate men； the
chances of war may throw in my power。
I have the honour to be Your obedient servant； Francis Marion。
____________
Gen。 Marion to Col。 Watson； of the British。
~Santee； March 7； 1781。~
Sir；
Enclosed is a letter which I wish may be forwarded as soon as possible。
I make no doubt but that you will be surprised to see a flag sent at the head
of an armed party。 The reason of it is； that Capt。 Saunders； commandant of
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Life of Marion。
Georgetown； has violated the law of nations； by taking； detaining and
imprisoning Capt。 Postell； who carried prisoners to exchange； which was
agreed to by him。 The hanging of prisoners and the violation of my flag
will be retaliated if a stop is not put to such proceedings； which are
disgraceful to all civilized nations。 All of your officers and men who have
fallen into my hands； have been treated with humanity and tenderness； and
I wish sincerely that I may not be obliged to act contrary to my
inclinations； but such treatment as my unhappy followers； whom the
chances of war may throw in the hands of my enemies receive； such may
those expect who fall in my hands。
I have the honour to be Your obedient servant； Francis Marion。
____________
Extract of a Letter from Gov。 J。 Rutledge to Gen。 Marion。
~Camp； at Haw River； March 8； 1781。~
I have not yet received the blank militia commissions I expected out。 If
I do not get some before I arrive at Richmond； I will there have some
printed and transmitted to you。 In the mean time you will give brevets；
~and in order that you may carry sufficient authority over the several
officers in your brigade； you may remove any of them； and appoint others
in their stead； from time to time； as you think proper。~
____________
Col。 N。 Balfour to Brig。 Gen。 Marion。
~Charleston； March 12； 1781。~
Sir；
I have received your letter of the 7th inst。 respecting the detention of
Capt。 John Postell； when charged with a flag of truce to Georgetown； and
complaining of the same as a breach of the law of nations。 The best
answer I can return to which is the transmission of his parole； which will
clearly evince that the breach of such law； as well as those of honour； rest
solely with that gentleman； who has acted in a military capacity when
engaged by the most solemn ties to remain in a state of neutrality。
____________
Col。 Balfour to Gen。 Marion。
~Charleston； March 21； 1781。~
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Life of Marion。
Sir；
I am greatly astonished to find that you have detained one of our
officers；* sent out with a flag of truce to you； and acting under its sanction；
this is indeed an infraction of the laws of nations and of war； as you
complain of in the case of Capt。 Postell； and such a one as if not
immediately redressed I shall be obliged to punish in the most exemplary
manner by the severest retaliation。 If in this action you could have alluded
to the case of Capt。 Postell； my letter of the 12th inst。 must surely have
convinced you； how truly dissimilar they are in every respect； but as from
such conduct I must conceive； Sir； this letter may not have reached you； I
now enclose a copy for your information and conviction。 Let me observe；
as faith had been violated by Capt。 Postell； he naturally became to us an
object for capture and punishment； under whatsoever circumstances he
might be met； and to argue from his justifiable detention； a right to extend
the like to those most unimpeachably upright in their conduct； is a
confounding of right and wrong； and a violation of all principles under
which any intercourse can subsist between powers at war with each other。
* Capt。 Merritt。
I am； Sir； Your most obedient humble servant； N。 Balfour。
____________
Col。 Watson to Gen。 Marion。
~Blakely's； March 15； 17