The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-11-12
TIE DAYS OF MARION.
Letters of Soldier boy of the Revolution.

Letters OF q Soldier hoy OF the heVolutiou
Mr.. William F. Bentley, of Bluff
Springs, Ark, has sent the following in
terestine letters to the News and Courier.
They were accidentally found in an old
desk that has been in the possession OF
the family for many years, and was taken
from Fayetteville, N. c., when the family
moved to Arkansas in 1S46:
PosT's FERRY, August 8, 1880.
William Fleetwood, Esq.-Honored
father: After wearisome ride our party
arrived in the vicinity of Posts Ferry
Yesterday noon, and Joined small force
commanded by Col. Hugh Horny in
camp near the great Pee-Dee River.
Your letter of introduction to Col. Ma.
rion had reached him before we left
North Carolina, which under the circum.
stances cannot but be regarded as very
fortunate. l would not have known him
by any of the descriptions given me be-
fore leaving home, and but for his in
ouiry for me, which he had made for
several days before 1 arrived, we may not
have met in the agreed HE relationship
which now exists. had formed al idea
that he was giant in size, but / assure
YOU he is no taller than our neighbor
Williams, and won't weigh more than
one hundred and twenty pounds, but
with this small body there is soul and
spirit far larger than most men of great
statue carry. He has an eye like q
hawk and looks you right steady in the
eye while he is conversing with you. He
is very pleasant in his manners when he
is entertaining one he considers worthy
of his respect, but, when thrown in a
passion be is in q fearful rage. ] wit.
messed this afternoon burst of his rage,
when deserter from his company was
brought before him. The poor devil
trembled all over like an aspen leaf under
Marion's denunciations.
NV duties are not yet assigned to me
beyond those must always discharge as
a good soldier of the Continental army,
who thinks more of serving his country
fai fully than of seeking for an easy or
a safe place. The small force we found
here are ill.supplied with creature com.
forts. Well.flled powder-horns and
good rifles are about all the outfit have
seen, but braver and truer men than
these Caroliuians do not walk the earth.
It was very interesting to me to witness
the meeting between Col. Marion and
few of the old soldiers he found here,
who were his comrades in the I'd Ccnti'
mental regiment before the fall of Char
lesion disbanded them. Col. Marion,
we are Informed, is promoted to be q
general, and that he will select from
among these old comrades some to COM
mand companies and squadrons, as the
people from Williamsburg and the Pee
Dee sections come in to join his stand
ard. Three of these have already been
selected for this purpose, Mr.. Jehu
Postell, his brother, John Postell and Mr..
William Capers. To the last named
gentleman I was introduced by Col.
Marion this afternoon with several COM
pIimentary remarks. From this I am
led to infer that I am to be an officer
under Mr.. Capers. I am much impressed
with this gentleman, who is man OF
courtly manners, evidently we'll bred.
Gen, Marion, for I must now call him
such, tells me that Mr.. Capers was one
of the brayest of the Old Second. Do
YOU remember him? His face does not
belle Gen. Marion's regard for him if
I know anything of human expressions
of character.
The courier, who is waiting for dis.
patches to Gen. Gates, will leave in q
few moments and has promised to leave
this at John Bentley's, where I am sure
you will go or that they will send it to
YOU. Pray present my love to dear
mother and to each of the children. Tell
mother her soldier boy is now realizing
his dream of ambition, to serve his
country which gives him citizenship, and
that am going to settle with the Tories
for robbing her last year. She will never
hear of her son turning traitor or being
q coward. Be pleased to tell Jack Liv-
ingstone that I will keep in mind my
promise to bring him red coat as
trophy when I have the opportunity. In
the event that any misfortune befalls me,
I wish you to give my shotgun and
pouch to Jack, who is clever boy and
will make a noble man some day.
Whenever an opportunity offers to get a
letter safe to you, it will be my most
agreeable duty to write to you and my
dearly loved mother.
With filial regard, l am your dutiful
son. EDWARD S. FLEETWOOD.