The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-02-06

the time goes-the General WAS preity haro
pushed for ammunition. We had been tryin'
to get some, every how we could think Of, but
couldn't do iii because, you see, the British
had our little party peDned up close in the
swamp. We had only about fifty men in all |
Tarleton and his troop were huntin' round,
and they had alarge force Of infantry in the
neighborhood. Well, somethin' had to be
done, for to be idle wasn't in the make'of
Marion. The only way he could get any am
munition to supply our wants, was to attack
the convoy that brought the stores to the
British in the reighborhood. These conveys
sometimes numbered a hundred men each
but often more than that. Besides, they
were well provided, in every respect, for an
attack We'll, Marion resolved to attack one
of these conveys; and he laid his plan for it
with the greatest care. The principal things
to be done were these "A party Of our men,
numbein' only ive--that was all we could
spare-was to take route through the
woods, just opposite to the one the whole
band were goin', and they were to Turk
around the large detachment of infantry in
that direction, and once and while show
themselves, to make the British think the
whole Of our band were in that neighborhood;
and then the commander of the detachment
would give the commander at the station
where the convoy came from, notice of the
fact, and thus throw 'cm off their guard.
Then, on the night of the attack, the whole
of the rest of the band were to march to a
place which he mentioned, where there was
a good chance for hidin', and better one
for an attack. 1t was place where the road,
along which, the convoy was expected to
come, passed through wood, where the
ground was very much ovcrgrown with
bushes, at the bottom of a very shallow raw
inc. The road just there made a short turn
so that when we were stationed on each side
of il, just before the bend, we could let the
advance Of the party get around before we'd
attack the convoy, and then the stores might
be secured very speedily. Wehad only three
rounds Of ammunition for each man, when
we heard Of an expected convoy of stores,
These we had treasured for some time, wait
in our chance. The party of five were sent
on their duty and, as they sent US word by
one of their number, they done the business
just as we expected; the British thinkin' our
whole party was in the neighborhood certain,
and sendin' word TO that amount to the COM
mander at the station where the convoy was
to come from. We were on the ground
Marion had fixed upon, before night, when
the convoy was. expected to pass. Every
thing turned out as we wanted it. The con-
voy got to the pass as it grew fairly dark.
4 We were at our posts, on horseback, in the
wood on each side of the road. Marion was
in command of the party on the RICH. of the
road, who were to secure the stores, and take
them through the wood in that direction.
was with the party on the other side, and we
were to attack the body of soldiers in the
rear Of the stores On came the convoy,
with their torches and lanterns lightin' the
way, never thinkin' anybody was goin' to
: trouble 'em. The advance got fairly round
tho bend in the road, and the wagons in
which we're the stores were right opposite to
us, when the word was given to our party to
fire and rush on the rear-guard; and we
poured yolley into them that staggered 'em
at once. Then we come down on 'em from
the sides of the road, like all creation; boot
in and shoutin' at the loudest. AT the same
Time the party under Marion came down,
from the other side Of the road, upon the
wagons with the stores; and while we were
slashin' away at the rear-guard, a.pary Of
Marion's men were securin' the stores, and
,, draggin' 'em off into the wood as fast as pos
siblc. Such a ycllin' as we kept up all the
! time, you can't think Of. To-uight's business
had good deal of that, but it wasn't any,
thing like the other. Part of the horsemen
: in the rear stood their ground, but the rest
/. made off back the way they came. The adj
vance got themselves, turned round by the
time most of the stores had been secured by
! the men Of Marion's party, and sent to oul
, place of meeti4 in the swamp, as fast as ten
men conld carry and drag 'em. The rest o.
his party came to our rescue, and helped to
r beat down the rest of the rear-guard. But
r there was no stifne to lose we couldn't stop
t to take prisoners. The advance was comm
n back upon rs; but the wagons werein theil
= road, and they couldn't get at us without
great danger to themselves. The order was
! given, and we poured our lastvolley into 'ein
and then took to Che wood. Marion wa.
nearly the last man on the ground bat be
: had the best horse. BE gave shout, AM
E fired his pistol into the foremost horseman':
breast, aud followed his men into the wood
just in time 10 save himself nom the sabre:
= of the rest Of them 4 WAS bshiid him, and
| saw him doit; and thea we rode through
+ thetwood nearly side BY side. We had ,tc
move quick through the wood, tell you
: We had to cross another road before we got
into the swamp, and Marion had strong fear.
!. Of bein' attacked there. The body Of horse