Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-01-05
HOW MARION GOT HIS RIFLES
New York News.

ne close OF the year lISO was 4
sad period for America. The British
held the country from Charleston to
the upper Santee and in order to
complete their conquest had eStab-
lished chain OF posts throughout
the State, each of which was strong.
ly fortified and defended 10y i good
garrison. Organized resistance to
the British actors in the struggle
were tn, men who composed the ia
nous eight brigade" Of General
Marion.
The favorite rendezvous of Marion
was at Snow Island. This is a piece
OF high river swamp, AS i is ca led
i'll the Carolinis, and Was surround
ed on three sides 10y Water, SO AS to
be almost lmpregnable. Here Mar
lou had his camp. From this fast
ness he issued forth 1T pleasure to
ravish the enemy's granarie>, or cap
ture Il Struggling party Of his troops.
Secure in his retreat, he had no fear
OF pursuit.
In the city of Charleston the des-
polism OF the British was ut its
height; the proud-spiritcl people Of
that capital were held down by Il
grinding tyranny. Many of them
were still open and uncompromislng
in their hostility to the English,
while others, thinking they could
best se~ve the cause in that way, at
fected hearty submission to the
conquerers, and were seemingly the
most loyal Of King Georges subjects.
Yet, while the English SAW this all
congratulated themselves upon the
good effect 1t would have upon the
colonists, these very loyali>ts kept
the American commanders constant
ly informed of all that passed within
the British lines, and many q di>lS
ter of the English was in this way
directly attributed to them.
One of these persons was Lady of
fine social position and great wealth.
Indeed there were few persons i'll all
Charleston over whose submission to
the crown the British were more ella
ted than they were over that of Mrs.
Anne Garden. She was "A Young
and beautiful widow just twenty five,
and for several years had been the
standing toast of the beauX of the
Carolinas. When the British took
the city, she was the first to submit
to the king, and since then her house
had been the t;lvorlte gathering place
of the red-roat gentry. Many Of
Mrs. Gardens friends, who were
-staunch patriots to the last, quietly
cut her acquaintance and shook their
heads when her name was mention
ed, and as for General Marion, he
could have told tales that would have
startled the widows Charleston
friends, had it been safe to do 50.
While Marion was creating so
gre It IN excitement beyond the
gates of Charleston, Mrs. Garden re-
solved to give II ball. Preparations
were made Oh III extensive scale, and
the loyal element of the city was III
high feather. The splendid mansion
of the young widow was dressed with
flowers from cellar to garrct, and
blazed with lights on the evening
appointed for the assembly, and the
band of the garrison discoursed
sweet music to the assembled crowd
The entertainment WIS ut its
height, when the crowd near the
door suddenly parted, and young
man came forward hurriclly. He
was tall and splendidly formed, and
carried himself erect with Il prou |,
martial air. He WAS dressed the int un
form of IN officer OF the tory legion,
and his general appearance was THAT
ola man who hll rillen far AMI
hard during the day. AS the young
widow saw him her face flashed and
then grew deadly pale, and she
sprang torwrrl with cry of alarm.
"What are you doing here?" she
asked hurricIly.
"You will see" he answered quick
ly, in low tone. "OAly for lIeav.