Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-05
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A Romance of the American Revolution
By w. GILMORE SIMMS

| Anon, they would show you the little
gathering in the swamp-the small
scouting squad timidly stealing forth
into the plain, and contenting itself
with cutting off a foraging party or a
baggage wagon, or rescuing discon-
solate group of captives on their way
to the city and the prison-ships. Soon
emboldened by success. the little squad
| is increased by numbers, and aims at
larger game. Under some such leader
as Colonel Washington. you should
see them. anon, we'll mounted, coursing
along the Ashley river road, by the
peep OF day. we'll skilled in the man
agement of their steeds, whose high
necks beautifully arch under the curb
while in obedience to the riders will,
they plunge fearlessly through brake
and through brier, over the fallen tree.
and into the suspicious water. Heed
less of all things but the proper
achievement of their bold adventure,
the warriors go onward, while the
broadswords flash in the sunlight, and
the trumpet cheers them with a tone
Of victory.
And goodlier still Is the sight, when,
turning the narrow lane, thick fringed
with the scrubby oak and the pleasant
myrtle, you behold them come sudden
ly to the encounter with the hostile
invaders. How they hurrah, and rush
to the charge with mad emotion that
the steed partakes-his ears erect, and
HIS nostrils distended, while his eye
balls start forward, and grow red with
the straining effort: then. how the RI
ders bear down all before them. and,
with swords shooting out from their
cheeks made nothing Of the upraised
bayonet and pointed spear, but, strik-
ing in, flank and front, carry confu-
sion wherever they go-while the hot
sands drink in the life blood Of friend
and foe, steaming through a thousand
wounds.
Hear them tell Of these. and of the
Game Cock" Sumter; how, always
ready for fight, with a valor which
was too frequently rashness, he would
rush into the hostile ranks. and with
his powerful frame and sweeping sa-
bre, would single out for inveterate
strife his own particular enemy.
Then, Of the subtle Swamp Fox"
Marion, who. slender of form, and hav-
ing but little confidence in his own
N
his sword in battle; gaining by
stratagem and unexpected enterprise
those advantages which his usual in
feriority Of force would never have per-
mitted him to gain otherwise. They
will tell you Of his conduct and his
coolness: OF his ability, with small
means, to consummate leading objects
the best proof of military talent;
and of his wonderful command OF his
men: how they would do his will.
though 1t led to the most perilous ad-
venture, with as much alacrity as II
they were going to banquet. or the
starving. and exposed to all changes OF
the weather, how cheerfully, In the
Businesses of the swamp, they would
sing their rude song about the capac-
ity of their leader and their devotion to
his person. in some such strain as that
which follows, and which we owe to
brave and generous George Dennison.
George Dennison was himself a fol-
lower of Marion. He belonged to the
race Of troubadours, though living too
late for the sort of life which they en-
ioyed, and for the fame which crowned
their equally eccentric lives and bal
lads. He sang for the partisans, the
gallant feat even in the moment when
performed. and taught to the hearts OF
rude cavalry, the lurking hope OF re-
membrance in song when they them
selves should never hear. In the deep
thickets Of the wood, in the wild re-
cesses Of the swamp, when the day s
march was over, when the sharp pas
sage at arms was ended, whether In
flight or yictory-his ballads, mostly
extempore, cneered the dull hours and
but martial lyrics inspired the au-
dacious charge and prompted the
bold enterprise and the emulous
achievement. All. brave and generous
George Dennison. we shall borrow OF
the songs of thy making. We shall
prolong for other ears the echoes of
thy lively lays, and the legends which
we owe to thee. who art thyself un-
known. For verify. thou hadst the
heart and courage of true and gallant
partisan: and thou couldSt sing with
the natural voice of a warm and pas
sionate poet: and thou couldst share
| the sufferingS. and SOothe the sorrows
of a comrade. with the loyalty of a
knightly friendship: and thou couldst
love with all the tender sweetness that
lies in the heart of woman: and thou
couldst cling in fight to thy enemy,
with the anger of u loving hate; and
thou didst not love life too much for
honor: and thou didst not fear death
so much but thou cOuldst brave him
with a laugh and a song, even In the
crossing of the spears. Verify, George
Dennison. will remember thee, and
preserve thy rude ballads. made by
thee for thy comrades ears in the
SwampS of Carolina. so that other ears
shall hear them. who knew thee not
Thou shalt tell them now, OF the life
led by thee and thy comrades, for long
seasons. when thou hast followed the
fortunes Of the famous Swamp Fox:
THE SWAMP FOX.
I'VE follow where the Swamp Fox
| guides
| His friends and merry men are we:
And when the troop of Tarleton rides
We burrOw in the cypress tree.
The turfy hammock Is our bed,
Our home is in the red-deer's den,
| our roof. the tree-top overhead.
For we are wild and hunted men.
ii.
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