The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-10-21
st. Johnsbury, Vt, October 81, l848,

in n common brotherhood, he soon nItor re-
coiycd from that body the commission OF
captain in one ofthG thrGO regiments rnisod
for the defence Of the colony. From this
time ill June of tho next year, no was busy
recruiting his regiment, discplinng his men,
and performing the various duties of his sta
ton. Ills company composed part OF that
gallant few, who so braycly defended FORT
Moulric for eleven hours against the com
bned attack of tho British feet II is said
tho last gun fred on That day was directed by
him. As the ships were retiring, Inc gave
them a parting salute, and so well aimed was
tho picco, that the shot struck the cabin Of
tho commanders ship, killing two young
officers drinking nj tho table. Then courslng
onward, shattered in pieces three sailors IN
ts pasgagc, and, finally, bnthcd in the blood
of liz foes, sunk with Eullcn JOY 10 tho bot
TOM" This was but II prowgc the dcstruc-
lion ho was yet 10 carry through the ranks
Of tho cncmy--l merely Il messenger OF tic
deeds To bc done.
At this time, Marion received his commits
sion as blgadior, from Governor Kulledsc;
though from his dress ono would never have
supposed him 20 be n general. lie was now
lorty-oight years of age, small, lean, aud
swarlby. but firmly sci, and of IRON Gincws
Ito wore scarlet colorcd outer jacket. Of
coarse cloth, and leather cap with silver
crescent in front, OIL which WINS inscrlbed
" Liberty or Death" Ills now troops were
no better equipped than himself; but their
wants were few, md il they could but got
arms aud ammunition, tho rcgimcntnls could
lie dispensed with. In order to supply them
selves with swords, they took the saws from
the neighboring saw-mils, and hammered
them into stout blades; which, Trough not
of Damascus temper and polish, would, in
Fl, L., l,nt NyiplIrI tl,nun .slnoUn
n man to the spiuo nj blow. Without tcuts
or haggagc, with but few blOnkets--Ihcir in
trepd leader having but one to serve both
for his bed and covcring-thcy mounted their
fleet horscsnnd entered Oh their adventurous
career. They were bold riders, and could
fire ms well from tho saddle ns from tho
ground and proud and careful of their stecds
often starved their own s;omachs To feed
them. Marion, soon after set out, obtained n
horse, tiom Tory, named Ball, which would
ou,srtp tho wind in speed, and conld swim
like dog. Many dark night. whom ;hc
.orscs OF his column would refuse to enter n
deep river, the farther shore of which coulu
not be seen. has Ball boldly plunged into the
stream with his fearless niuster, aid drawn
the whole troop nnCr him.
Thus equipped and thus commanded, this
mounted brigade started ofl'on its first cNpc-
dilion At the outset Murion showed his
men what Kind Of service no expected of
them. Ordering Item 10 ride all night, he
came up in the morning with large party
of Tories cncnmpcd nj Buffers Ncck,and fell
on them with such suddcnness and fury, that
tho whole party was scattered as II Thirl
wird had swept through u.
Many OF those who composed Marion 5
troop, were men ofnmazing physical strength
daring riders, and desperate fighters. In
this first encounter. ono Of them, james,
mndo mt MINOR Gancy, who commanded the
Tories, and cIIased him for II half milo along
the road. Leaning over his saddle, with his
drawn sword in Ills hnnd, he swept onward
in such hcadlonG gallon, thu hc coon left
al his companions far behind. NlIh his
fashing eve Fixed OH his antagonist, on whom
! lIc wns gaining nj every spring, nc did not
SEQ that he was dashng, all alone, into u
large body Of Tories, who had rallied III their
flight. Not momCnt was TO hn loSi--to re-
treat was impossible.-aud without tghtcn-
ing the rein, lac waved his sword over his
head, shouting. aa ifa whole troop were al
his back "Comc on boys here they ncr burst
like thnnderbol mo their very midst
Tho whole party broke without FIRING shot
| aud fed to the swamps
Hating only long enough 10 rest his mon
and horses, Marion went in search olanothcr
detachment Of Tories. On coming up he
| found them too strongly posted To he attacked
in their position, and so bcgr'iled them into
an ambush when he fell on them SO uncN-
poctcdIy, that he dispersed them without
losing n man. lie then marched for tho Up
per Santcc, md on his route heard Of tho de-
feat of Gates, at Camden. Conccaling the
news from his mon, lest they should he dis
couragcd, he pushed on TO intercept party,
which his scouts informed him was coming
down tho river with large number ofpris-
oucrs, taken at Camden, in their charge
Marching rapidly forward, he got possession
ola dclic, through which they were to pass
and at daylight attacked thcm both i'll front
and rear, with such suddenness that they
gave hut one volley, and fed. Twenty-fGui
British soldiers, and hundred and fifty con
tincntals of tho Maryland line, where tic
fruits Of this victory.
There woro five brothers of this name
all in Marion's brigade aud noble men they
were.