Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-15

The little force led by Singleton, In
advance of his main body continued
to make acquisitions at every step Oh
its progress. The scouts Of Marion,
lining the woods at convenient inter-
walls from each other, were soon nou-
fed of the approach of friends by the
peculiar whistle which Thumbscrew
EMPLOYED; a whistle shrill in itself,
and singularly modulated, which Mar
IONS men were all taught to under
stand. They came out, one py one
from the bush; brought out their MD
den horses, and each, answering 10
his nom de guerre, as II was calleo
out by Thumbscrew, took his place
along with the advancing party. There
were Supple Jack and Crabstick, Red
Possum and Fox Squirrel, Slickfoot
and Old Ben; all men of make and
metal, trusty and true, and all OF
them, in after years, winning a good
ly reputation in the land, which the
venerable tradition, in sundry places
will mot willingly let die"
The river was now at hand ana
Thumbscrew was required to give the
signal to the scouts who were at
watch along it's banks. He did so,
and the effect was admirable. From
one bush to another, cover to cover,
they all gave back the emulous
sounds. The old cypress had a voice
from it's hollow, the green bush from
its shade, and the shriu echoes roll
ingly arose from the crowding leaves
of the thick tree that overhung the
river, reverberating far away along its
bosom. The signal was but once re-
peated, and all was still for moment.
Suddenly, the approaching troop heard
the plash of paddles, the plunge OF
horse in the water, and quick, livery
blast from the common horn, the
sounds seeming to arise from the
swamp on the opposite shore. Pusn-
ing his steed forward, and followed
by his men, Singleton rode up to the
bluff of the river, just as the last gay
-limpses of the setting sun hung like
so many rose-streaks upon Its bosom,
trembling to and fro like so much
gossamer on the green edges OF the
gathering foliage.
And what a sight, in addition, was
before their eyes! The surface of the
river was strewn with boats OF all sorts
and Sizes A dozen or more, filled
with the men Of Marion, were IN prog
ress from one side of the stream to
the other, while they towed behind
them as many more, laden with live
stock and provisions-a large assess
ment having just been made upon the
farmsteads of the neighboring Tories
They had reached the centre Of the
stream, when the signal of the scouts
struck their ears; and the quick com.
mand Of their leader, the renowned
partisan-for 1t was Marion himself
who led them-arrested their future
progress. He stood erect when the
troopers rode up to the bank; and the
eye of Singleton soon distinguished
him from the rest.
Yet there was little in his appear
ance, to the casual spectator, to marx
him out from his compatriots. His
habiliments were not superior TO
theirs. They had borne the brunt OF
strife, and needed, quite as much as
those Of the rest, the friendly hand or
repair and restoration. His person
was small, even below the middle
stature, and exceeding lean and slend-
er. His body was well-set, however,
with the exception of his knees and
ankles which were thick, incompact,
and badly formed. At this time, he
rested almost entirely upon one leg
the other being at ease upon the gun
vale of the boat. He still suffered
pain in one of his limbs from recent
hurt; and in walking, an unpleasant
lirnping movement was readily per-
ceptible. His dress, as Singleton now
beheld him, was one rather unusual
for a commanding officer from whom
so much was expected. 1t consisted OF
a close-bodied jacket, of deep GRIM
son colour but of coarse texture.
His smallclothes, Of the fashion OF
the day. were badly conceived Tor
such figure. The free Turkish trou-
sers might have concealed those de-
fects which the closely fitting fashions
of the time rendered unnecessarily
conspicuous. His were Of blue stun,
coarse like the jacket, and made with
exceeding plainness without stripe
or ornament of any description, be-
yond the frog of his sword, the small
cut-and-thrust which hung rather
low at his side. A white handker-
chief about his neck, wound loosely,
accorded strangely with the rest OF
his dress, and did not seem, In It's
disposition, to have taSked much OF
the care Of the wearer. His uniform
If so it may be styled, was completed
by the round leathern cap, forming
part of the dress which he wore when
an officer in the second South Caro-
lima regiment It bore in front sill
yer crescent, with the words, Liberty
or DEATH" inscribed beneath. He
wore no plume. but in its place
white cockade, which was also worn
by all his men. in order that they
might be more readily distinguished
in their night actions with the Tories
Such was the garb and figure of the
guerilla-the Swamp Fox of Car
olina. -,
The features of his face did not i'll
accord with the style of his garments.
His skin was dark and swarthy; his
eyes. black. piercing. and quick;
his forehead, high, full and command
ing; his nose was aquiline: his chin
bold and projecting. though not
nhapk SnnRpn and
deeply touched with the lines OF
thought. He was now forty-eight
wears Of age-in the very vigor OF
his manhood-hardened by toll and
privation. and capable Of enduring
every sort of fatigue. Cool and STEADY,
inflexible, unshrinking; never sur
prised; never moving without his
object, and always with the best de-
sign for effecting It, Marion. perhaps
of all the brave men engaged in the
warof American liberty, was the one
calculated for the warfare Of the par
tisan His patriotism, wisdom. and
fearlessness moved always together
and were alike conspicuous. Never
despairing of his cause, he was always
cheerful in viciSSitude and elastic un-
der defeat His mind rose with re-
neWed yigor, from the press of neceS-
sity: and every new form of trial only
stimulated him 10 newer ana more
successful efforts. His moral and mill
itary character. alike, form the most
perfect models for the young, that can
be furnished by the history of any in
dividual of any nation.
The paddles of the rowers were
lifted as Singleton appeared in sight.
The boats rested in the center of the
river. and shading his eye with his
hand, Marion closely noted the troop
as it's several members wound out OF
the woods and gathered along the
bank. He did not need much time In
the survey, before his keen eye SIN
gled out the persons of such OF the
newcomers as he had before known
His voice, strong, regular and clear.
though at the same time subdued and
musical, was heard Immediately al
ter.
"Ah, Major Singleton. you are as
prompt as ever. l rejoice to see
YOU. You come in good season, though
you seem but poorly accompanied.
A few words from Singleton eX-
planned the cause of his apparent
weakness, and the orders Of Marion
MI giyan