Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-30
GTON, SUNDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 80, 1853. "%

D. q.
the mere dollar--the glittering toy and the yell
low-winged butterfly of corruption should only
find his home with brother demonsl
But night came and passed, and morning
broke in the east. The sun rose in all its
transcendent beauty and loveliness, scattering
golden tints over forest and field. The drum
beat to arms. The ranks we're formed, and the
command given to march BY eight o'clock,
Tarlton, with his tories and regulars, amount
| ing in all to nigh thousand men, moved from
their camp in the direction of the American
army. Tarlton, although he doubted the end
somewhat, yet was assured, over and over again,
by the traitor, that Marion would be taken al
together, as he intended making no movement
! until his return; and also that he expected no
attack from the foe for some length of time
Taking all these things into view, 1arton
felt sure Of trapping the willy rebel ofthe swamp,
Marion. He thought him entangled in his
meshes, and that he could not escape, and he
inwardly chuckled over his certain victory.
| But the day rolls on, and evening finds hin,
| within only two miles Of his hated foe. Here
they halted, intending to rest awhile, refresh
the soldiers, and then move on, when aided by
the midnight darkness they could steal steathily
upon the almost secured prey and tear it in
1 pieces
How he succeeded let the future tell Whether
the lion was driven from the field or the eagle
brought down from his lofty fight. Whether
the proud pennant of St. George, or the glori-
ous stars and stripes were trampled in the dust.
| CHAPTER III.
After Marion had read the note that was
| handed to him so mysteriously, he sat ponder
ing and reading it over again, after which he
| folded it up carefully and placed it within the
pocket of his great coat, with the determination
| to ferret out the author in the morning. He
| then retired On awaking in the morning he
| was surprised to find another note laying on
| the table; which on opening was found to con:
| tain the same words as the former one Here
was mystery on mystery mystery he could
not account for; nor could the author be found
in camp Enquiry was instituted in vain. No
clue could be gained rs to who was the anony
nous author Of the letters. Thus everything
went ON smoothly throughout the day.
1 Just about dark soldier, a thin, spare faced
dark visaged man of about five and twenty,
approached Marion, who stood thoughtfuliy
gazing from his tent door, at the setting sun,
and saluting him, said: s
/ General, it was j who wrote those mystical
notes; and what yon learn from them is, I'm
afraid, too true and tonight, if you act wisely,
you will let your men sleep upon their arms"
"Ha! exclaimed Marion, want to dictate to
me- k
| "No, no, not at ALL" rejoined the dragoon,
somewhat ruffled, "but do hope that you will
| profit by my suggestion" and walked away.
| z" Come back ] wish to know the whole"
shouted Marion to the man who had moved off
several steps. fs
He did So He informed him that on the
| he heard him mutter to himself something about
glory and honor, that he would have them let
\ the price be what II wonld, and thas country
was nothing to him il. by selling it he could OBJ
1 tain glory and gold. Also that he had heard
! the whole agreement between him and the spy,
and that he had dogged the steps of Clarence
as far as safety permitted, because he had been
suspicious of the man chosen by Marion for the
task, and doubted his sincerity as soldier.
Marion, after considering the thing over in
his mind, although he doubted the tale little,
though there might be something in the thing
after all and Immediately ordered out double
sentry, a scouting party to scour the country;
! and also that the men should sleep upon their
arms He well knew these proceedings would
do no harm, let the good resulting from them
be what it might. 1t proved, however, very
| iudicious conclusion, for the scouts had not
proceeded over half mile when they came in
sight Of the enemy's van, and unperceiyed hur
ried back to camp, SO that they might be pre-
| pared to give the foe warm reception. All
| was now confusion for little while in the
American camp-all were busy in preparations
! for the coming conflict.
| The Americans had scarcely gained the posi-
ton to which they had been ordered, ere the
| van of Tarlton approached. The British were
so confident of success that they longed for the
i ~ X had Tod
two hundred yards to very advantageous posi-
ton and had ordered his men to withhold their
| fire until commanded.
| The enemy, ignorant of the apprisal and re-
| moval of the lines, rushed on heedlessly. All
AT once the cry was raised that the bird had
flown. And sure enough it appeared SO to
them, for the night was so dark that it was i'm
possible to see the foe at the distance which in:
| tervened. Contenting themselves with rumag
ing and pillaging the tents and swearing at their
disappointment, they were scattered around in
| the greatest confusion. Marion saw and knew
! that this was the time for action; and passing
silent orders to his men to rush on the unex.
pecting enemy, he set his little band in motion,
and aided by the extreme darkness, reached
| within fifty yards of the foe unperceived. Now
was the crisis! At the sound of the bugle his
men rushed on, pouring death into the enemy's
| ranks at every step. On, with the impetuoslty
1 Of the avalanche let loose from the mountain
TOP, or like demons, they rushed npon the terri,
fed soldiery. Scores of the enemy fell at every
charge. Terror and confusion disabled them
from offering any resistance. AS the rear ranks
formed in order, those in front fell back and
4 throw all into confusion. In vain the officers
tried 10 rally the broken ranks. Weary, in deep
confusion and stricken with terror, the foe fed,
vet were they hotly pursued by the intrepid
rebels, leaving on the field over three hundred
! of their best men, dead--6ve hundred wounded
| and three hundred prisoners among the latter
| was Clarence Erskine. |" Truly the battle is
not for the mighty !!
! The blow was decisive. The name Of Marion,
which had only been feared before by the tories,
was now terrible. The flower of the British
army had been either killed or taken; and the
wayering natives resoutely declared against the