Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-26

suit"
Colonel Marion examined the fugi-
tive himself. He was one of the lit
tie squad of Colonel Walton, and had
sustained the battle in the regiment
of Colonel Dixon, to whose North Car
olina regiment-the only one that
had stood the fight-he had been at
tached by Gates. He had seen the
first and the last of the battle, and
had been fortunate enough to reach
one of the SwampS which lay on the
flank of both armies, where he found
shelter until the victor had departed.
He gave the whole gloomy story OF
the defeat in broad colors to the par
tisans: and though he could say moth
ing as to the fate of Gates himself
and the several officers touching whose
safety the inquiries of Marion and of
Singleton were made in particular,
he yet knew enough to assure them
of the utter dispersion of the army,
and the slaughter, according TO his
account, of at least one half OF IT. His
farther intelligence was important,
and suggested opportunities which are
yet available to our partisans. he
had seen, and with difficulty had es-
capped from the British guard, which
having custody of the Continental
prisoners, destined for the provost, or
common prison in Charleston. That
guard, he informed the partisan, had
pursued an upper road, and would'
according to all probability, crosss the
Santee at Nelson's, few miles high
er up the river.
Burdened with bag and prisoners,
they might not yet have reached the
river: and with this hope, giving his
Oh olS u,it hn
Marion collected his squad. resolute
to try all odds, however inferior in
number. with the detachment in ques-
ton. The rescue of one hundred and
fifty Continentals-for that was the
least number of captiveS-would be
an important acquisition to the cause;
and a successful stroke so soon after
such a defeat as that of Gates, might
have the beneficial effect Of restoring
confidence, and giving renewed hope
to the paralyZed Carolinians.
Himself, undespairing, Marion
adopted his plan with due determi-
nation. Dividing his force into three
parties, he gave one to Colonel Hugh
Horny. another to Singleton. and the
third he led in person. The signal
sounded. the mon rose from their hid
ing places, and gathered around their
different leaders; and within an hour
after the receipt of the intelligence
Just given, and while the sun yet
shone rich, and like a sovereign, in
the west, the partisans were all
mounted upon their fleet steeds, and
dashing up to the spot where they
hoped, and prepared to receive their
enemies. Silence resumed her savage
empire in the swamp, and the grey
squirrel now leaped fearlessly over
the island retreat which, an hour
before. he had trembled but to APP
proach.
AS the partisan drew nigh the des-
ignatcd point. he obtained intelligence
that the guard with the prisoners ha
not yet crossed the river. but had
marched to the Great Savannah, lit
tie above It, He was practically in
formed as to their number, and that OF
their prisoners, though nothing was
yet known to the partisans Of the pc
culiar condition of some among them
the doom to which. they were destin-
ed or of those who had already been
sacrificed to the vindictive spirit OF
the British commander. All this they
were yet to learn.
Moving now with greater rapidity
Marion soon closed the river with al
his force: and, as the enemy could not
be very far off, he proceeded more
cautiously. He sent out his scouts
and as they severally came in with in
telligence. he prepared his farther
plans. Night came on, and he was ad-
viSed that the British would most prob
ably lie by. on the main road, at the
public house which was kept on the
edge of the Great Savannah. the
opinion seemed probable. as travelling
by night in the southern swamps was
no part Of the British custom; and tC
cross the river after dark would have
been a risk of some magnitude. This
however. was Marion's favorite mode
of warfare: and calling in his parties
he gave directions to Colonel Horny tC
make a circuit round the Savannah
and, lurking on its lower edge, gain