The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-14
A FAMOUS STORY.


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 and bold.
The British soldier tre1nbles
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 mention of his name
put force of 200 or 800 soldiers to rout.
Marion himself had on this occasion not
more than a dozen men.
In Sumnerville, S. c., lives the nearest
surviving relative of General Marion, a
great-gTandniece, Mrs. Frank Fishb1lrne
In her possession are many of the personal
articles and other reminders of the famous
general. Among them is a large oil paint
ing of Marion in the act of dining the
British officer on sweet potatoes, and sweet
potatoes alone, under the shade of the
mammoth oak. This hoary monarch of
the Carolina forests is still standing at
spot about nine miles from SummervilIe
and just in the rear of Ingleside, an old
colonial heme belonging to the Parker
family also distinguished in Revolutionary
annals. 1t is in fair state of preserva-
ton, despite the ravages made upon it by
the relic hunter. A Chicago Record writer
saw it but a short time ago.
After the defeat of the American army
and the death of De Ka1b Marion turned
upon the enemy with the desperation of
wounded tiger No one dreamed that he
could win. The odds were desperate.
How was it possible to bring victory out
of such utter Generalization? But it was
done, as history shows.
1t was during one of Marion's s biyouacs
in the swamps of the Santee that the Incl
dent of the potato dinner occurred. He
was awaiting flag of truce from the Brit
ish at Georgetown, so as to make arrange
ments with reference to the exchange of
prisoners. The bearer of the flag was
young British officer of note. He came to
the conference with the renowned leader,
his mind filed with the most vividly col
ored pictures as to his appearance and sur
roundings. What, then, was his astonish-
ment on being conducted into the presence
of a small, swarthy, thin faced man, not
only clad in homespun, but ragged home
spun at that And instead of the mag
nificent army he had expected to see there
was comparatively but a handful of rag
ged, barefoOted, sun tanned men and boys
many of them only 10 and Is years old.
At the close of the conference the officer
arose to depart.
''Oh, no, - said Marion Hospitality. stDo
not leave until you have had dinner. We
are about to dine. Will you not share our
dinner with us?''
The officer looked around, but saw no
preparation for a meal. Where could the
dinner be?
''Sit down, sir, - said the general again
courteously 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 a
half dozen sweet potatoes roasted with
their jackets on. He pinched them to see
if they were done. Then, cleaning them,
Hx-I Is
and partly by wiping them on the sleeve
of his shirt, he placed them upon large
piece of bark and set them between the
general and his guest.
The young officer stared in astonish
ment Could this really be the dinner of
the great Marion?
"COme, SIR said the general pleasant
ly, noting with some amusement the
amazed expression upon the face of his
guest, fall to. You do not seem to be
hungry"
Recovering his manners, the young
officer helped himself to one of the pOta-
toes but made very poor attempt at eat
ing.
Il fear such as this doesn't tempt your
appetite, - said Marion again, but it is
the best we have"
Suddenly, to the generals astonish-
ment, the young officer broke into laugh
ter.
''Why, what aInuses you, sir?''
81 was thinking, general, how our men
would look if they had to sit down to such
a dinner as this!'
''It is first rate dinner, indeed, . said
the general hungrily devouring his potato.
but surely, general, you usually have
better than this?'
NO said Marion decidedly, "this is
about the best. Generally we have worse. -
"But you get good pay?'
"Pay, sir? Pay, did you sayP Well,
sir, that is something we don't get at all -
"NO pay, and such fare as thisl Then
in heavens name, sir, for what are you
fghting?"
For what are we f1ghting?' repeated
Marion his eyes on fire why, sir, for
that dearer than life itself-for liberty"
The conversation between the young
officer and Colonel Watson, the British
of the former from Marions S camp, has Of
ten been quoted.
why asked Colonel Watson, ''do you
look SO seriOusr'
81 have cause, sir. :"
''Whati Has General Marion refused to
treat?'
"No, sir"
"Wen, has old Washington defeated
Clinton and broken up our army2"
''Not that either -
"What then?''
"Weu, sir, it is that I have seen an
American S5l6Idl anu O11lCSES5 W4bAOuS
pay and almost without clothes, living on
roots and drinking water, and all for lib
ertyl What chance have we against such
menP"
Yes, what chance did time show them
to have? OF such stuff We're made the
heroes of that struggle which won for US
the goodly heritage we enjoy today
General Marion was born the same year
as Washington, 1882. His birthplace was
Winyaw, near Georgetown, S. c. His
grandfather was Huguenot; his mother
also was of French extraction. He died