Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-08-05

friends, and cXacted the respect of his
enemies. The country from the Camden
to the sea coast, between the Pedee and
Santee was the the theatre Of his exertions.
When Charleston fell into the enemys
hands, lieuteuant-colonel Marion abandon
ed his State,and took shelter in North Car
olIna- The moment he recovered from the
fracture Of his leg, he engaged in prepar-
ing the means Of annoying the enemy, then
IN the flood tide Of prosperity With SIX
teen men only he crossed the Santee and
commenced that daring system Of warfare
walcaso much annoyed the British army.
Colonel Peter Horny, In his life Of gen
eral Marion. gives the following interest
Iug incident: About this time we receiv-
ed a flag from the enemy in Georgetown.
South Carolina. the object Of which was
to make some arrangements about the pri-
s0ners. The flag, after the usual cerem0-
ny Of blIndfolding, was conducted into
Marion's eucampment Having heard
great talk about general Marion, his fan
cy had naturally enough sketcled out for
him some stout figure OF a warrior. such
as y OHara, or CornWallis himself, of mar
tial aspect and flaming regimentals But
wat was his surprise, when led into Mar
ions presence, and the bandage taken from
his eyes, he beheld. in our hero. a swarthv.
smoke-dried little man. with scarcely
enough Of thread bare home spun to cover
his uakednessl and, instead Of tall ranks
Of gav-dresscd soldiers. a handful of sun
burnt yellow-leeeed militia men; some
roasting potatoes, and some asleep. with
their black frc-locks, and powder horns.
lying by them on the logs. Having re-
covered little from his surprise, he pre-
sented his letter TO general Marion, who
perused it. and soon settled everything to
his satisfaction
The officer took his hat to retire
"Oh no" said Marion. 1T Is now about
our time Of dining, and [ hope sir, YOU
viii give Us the pleasure of your company
to dine"
At the mention of the word dinner. the
British officer looked around him. but to his
great modification could see no sign of a
pot.pan, Dutch oven. or any other cooking
utensil that could raise the spirits Of
hungry man.
"Weu Tom" said the general to one of
his men, come, give US our dinner"
The dinner to which he alluded. was no
other than heap of sweet potatoes, that
were very snugly roasting under the en-
bers. and which Tom. with his pine stick
poker soon liberated from their ashy CON
faement; pinching them now and then
with his fingers. especially the big ones, to
see whether they were well done or not.
Then having cleaned them Of the ashes,
partly by blowing them by lis breath and
partly by brushing them with the sleeve
Of his old cotton shirt. lie piled some of
the best on a large piece of bark, and
placed them between the British officer
and Marion. on the trunk of the fallen pine
on which they sat
i fear sir," said the general, "our din
ncr viii not prove SO palatable to you as l
could wish but it Is the best we have"
The officer. who was q well bread man.
took up one Of the potatoes and effected to
feed, as if he had found a great dainty:
but 1t was very plain he ate more from
good manners than good appetite.
Presently he broke out into a hearty
laugh, Marion looked surprised Il beg
pardon. general" said he. but one cannot.
YOU know. always command c0nccits I
was thinking how drolly some of my broth
cr officers would look. if our government
We're to give them such a bin of fare as
suppose replied Marion 1T is not
.ai t. tier style Of dining
$40 indeed quoth the officer "aud
this | imagine. is one OF your accidental
lent dinners. sort Of tan 2lau In com
mon. no doubt Won live a great deal better"
Rather worse, answered the general.
for often we don't get enough Of this"
,.IIeaven " rejoined the officer; "but
probably what You lose in meal YOU make
up in malt, though stiuted in provisions,
YOU draw noble pqY'
Not a cent sir." said Marion mot
ceutr
Heavens and earth then you must be
in bad box. l don't see general, how
YOU stand it,
why, sir. replied Marion, with smile
Of scif-approbation, "these things depend
on feeling"
The Euclishman said, she did not be-
Iicyc it would be an easy matter to recon
Gle his feelings to a soldiers life on gen
cral Nariou's terms: all fgLtiHC. no paY
alld H0 lror5si92S, 6ilt p1iat0cS.
"Whv. sir" answered the general. the
.-loarl IS aII; and when that IS much in
terosted, a man can do any thing Many
Z youth NtQlu lllIA IL AUIu 10 llQtlIuEC
himself a slave for fourteen years. But
let him be over head and ears In love, and
with such a boautcous sweet heart as Ra-
chael, and he VIII think no more of fourteen
years Of servitude, thar young Jacob did
Well now, this is exactly my case. I am
in love and my sweet heart Is LIBERTY
BE that heavenly nympl my champion,
aud these woods shall have charms be
vond London and Paris in slavery. To
have no proud monarch driving over me
with his gilt coaches; nor his host of ez-
ciscmen, and tax-catherers. insulting and
r0bbing; but to be my own master, my
own prince and sovereign: gloriOusly pre-
serving the national dignity, and pursuing
ny true happiness planting my vineyards
and eating Of their luscious fruit; sowing
my fields, and rcaping the golden grain
and seeing millions Of brothers around me.
equally free and happy as myself. This;
sir. Is what l long for
II