The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-29

by others to the number OF thirty,
we'll mounted and we'll armed; and
now began his history as partl'
san leader.
He adopted tactics of his own
living on the enemy, depending on
him for arms, ammunition, camp
equipage, horses, and forage Al
lowing his men frequent paroles,
subject to summons, his force was
economically maintained, and readl-
ly augmented on emergency, varying
from thirty or forty to two hundred
nen, with which latter number he at
one time surprised six hundred of
the enemy, seized the arms, equip.
ments. aud stores. and marched them
off as prisoners.
On another occasion, with force
of only thirty men, he surprised a
British guard of ninety, having two
hundred American prisoners on their
way to Charleston, seizing their
arms, which were all stacked near
the gate, and made prisoners of the
whole party without having been
obliged to kill more than three of
them. After everything had been
secured, OH searching for the cap
tain of the party, he was found up
the chimney. Strange to say, not
one of the two hundred prisoners he
had rescued could be persuaded to
shoulder musket. All were anxious
to be relieved and go home, and
Marion had no desire to recruit his
little force with such material He
now had more arms and munitions
of war than he knew what to do
with, and so retreated to Britton's
Neck with his plunder, and estab.
lished little arsenal there.
After a brief rest at this place,
learning that the tories were muster
ing in force on the Pedee. he mount
ed his men, and, after brisk ride of
about forty miles, came upon their
encampment in the dead of night
when all were asleep Not shot
was fired on either side until Marion
and mis- men were in the camp, load
ing the arms and ammunition upon
the captured horses of the party. OF
the forty-nine men who composed
the company, Marion's men killed
and took about thirty, and fell back
in good order to Britton's Neck,
each leading horse loaded with
plunder, and without the loss Of
man.
News of these reported exploits
spread like wild6re over the country,
to the dismay Of the British and their
allies, who soon sent three we'll
mounted companies to smoke out
the "Swamp Fox" and his followers.
But Marion made masterly retreat
to the north, the British falling back
upon Georgetown and the tories to
Black Mingo, where they made a
stand. But Marion's scouts soon
brought him news of the camp. and
he promptly turned and attacked
them at night, as usual, although the
tories were twice his strength and
we'll posted Nothing could with
stand the fury of the attack the
commanding officer was soon killed,
and two thirds of his men were hors
de combat when the survivors mounted
their horses and escaped.
Loading his horses with such
plunder as could be secured. and
destroying the fragments, he now
promised his men a little rest, and
led them down to Waccamaw, where
he had some wealthy patriot friends
among the planters. The descend
ants Of the Hugers, Trapiers and
Alstons are very fond of relating
how their ancestors feasted General
Marion and his men after this adven-
ture.
But Marion and his men were a
band of heroes, and their reputation
was such that neither friends nor
foes allowed them muc!l time for
crest however well deserved.
After very few days of their rest
and high feeding at Waccamaw, they
were in ther saddles again, sixty
strong, headed for the Pedee, where
the tories were again mastering
force to surprise the "Swamp Fox
and treat him and his men to some of
their own music. Hating within
few miles of the place, he sent for
ward two trusty scouts who secreted
themselves at the side of the public
road leading to the tory camp, care
fully noting all they could hear and
see, and returning to the Marion
bivouac at night, confirmed the news
that had been given.
Soon as the night had we'll set in,
the eager little band were again on
the backs cf their horses, and, riding