Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-11-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
ALL FOR LIBERTY.
GEN. MARIoN's FAMOUS DINNER

General Francis Marion, of South
Carolina, was one of the heroes of
romance Of the American Revolu-
ton. About no one of the many
conspicuous characters who took
part in that active drama has more
OF story and Of song been written.
Yet he was far from being of ro-
mantle turn himself, for he was one
OF the plainest and most practical of
men. But such fighter. Fully as
much OF truth as Of poetry was
there in this bit from what was once
the star defamation of patriotic
Southern schoolboys:
"Our band is few, but true and tried {;
Our leader frank aud bold:
The British soldier trembles
When Marion's name is told"
This was literally a fact. Marion
was the terror OF the whole British
army. At one time the very men,
ton of his name put force of two
or three hundred soldiers to rout.-
Marion himself had on this occasion
not more than a dozen men.
In Summerville, S. c., lives the
nearest surviving relative of Gen.
eral Marion, a great-grand-niece
Mrs. Frank Fishburne. In her DOS
session are many of the personal ar
ticles and other reminders of the fa-
nous general. Among them ia a
large oil painting of Marion in the
act of dining with British officer
on sweet potatoes, and sweet pota-
toes alone, under the shade of a
mammoth oak. This hoary mon
arch of the Carolina forests is still
standing at a spot about nine miles
from Summerville, and just in the
rear of 4" Ingleside," an old colonial
home belonging to the Parker family,
also distinguished in revolutionary
annals. 1t is in fair state of pres.
ervation, despite the ravages made
upon 1t by the relic-hunter. A Chi
cago Record writer saw il but short
time ago.
After the defeat Of the American
army and the death of De Kalb,
Marion turned upon the enemy with
the desperation of wounded tiger.
NO one dreamed that he could win.
The odds were desperate. How was
1t possible to bring victory of such
utter decentralization But it was
done, as history shows.
1t was during one of Marion's
bivouacs in the sWamps of the Santee
that the incident of the potato din
ner occurred. He was awaiting a
flag Of truce from the British at
Georgetown, so as to make arrange.
ments with reference to the exchange
or prisoners. The bearer of the
flag was young British officer OF
note. He came to the conference
with the renowned leader, his mind
f1lled with the most vividly colored
pictures as to his appearance and
surroundings. What, then, was his
astonishment on being conducted
INTO the presence of a small, swarthy
thln-faced man, not only clad in
nonespun, but ragged homespun al
that. And, instead Of the magnifi.
cent army he had expected to see,
there was comparatively but hand.
1ui OF ragged, barefooted, sun-tan.
hed men ana boys many of them
only fifteen and sixteen years old.
AT the close Of the conference the
officer arose to depart.
"Oh, no." said Marion, hospita.
bly,, "do not leave until you have
had dinner. We are about to dine,
Will you not share our dinner with
us?u
The officer looked around, but ga W
no preparation for a meal. Where
could the dinner be?
"Sit down, SIR" said the general,
c0urteously, and made room for him
on the same extended bough of the
tree where he sat. Then to negro
boy who stood near he said:
"Come, Tom, give US our dinner. ~
The boy raked from the ashes
near by half dozen sweet potatoes
roasted with their jackets on. He
pinched them to see If they were
done. Then cleaning them, partly
by blowing on them with his breat h
and partly by wiping them on the