The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-02

KNOW such never existed? Your book
Is out. My dissatisfaction of it is no
ways material. You say you want to
see. me- fo procure some additional
anecdotes for your second edition. and
that, If I can point out any errors or
places where improvement be made,
that you will cheerfully attend to any
instructions. Could such improve
ment be made. fear for its fate
to be disregarded as my first perform
ances were. A second edition would
add to your emoluments. I cannot
think can amend my former work
In your hands. Much time and de-
liberation were used to form, correct
and perfect the same. To attempt
further fear at this distant day
would detriment, rather than benefit.
After having compared my work
which I call history, and which you
&C" socuments-with your book, ]
wish YOU would send 1t to me, in or
der that I may also compare it. I
before wrote you for this, but receiv-
ed no answer"
Gen. Horny finally got his manu-
script history back from weems, and
Il was long in possession Of a neph-
ew Of his wife. Some day I hope to
put It into print for the benefit of the
students of our truthful history, but
! fear that 1t will not prove the seller
that Mems romance has been. Tha,
book has probably, been through more
editions and more copies of 1t have been
sold than of any other book that has
ever been written about South Caro-
lima. Gen. Horny annotated a copy of
the first edition and I have examined
that copy. which Is in the hands of a
relative of mine, whose aunt married
Gen. Horny. The notes show that
Weems made Marion the hero OF
many incidents that Horny had writ.
ten Of I'm connection with others, and
that Marion was not even present on
those occasions. Gen. Horny makes
use Of such expressions as "the fruit.
full invention of the brain Of Mr.
Weems." "Mr. Weems inventions are
great" etc.. In his notes. The second
edition OF the book was issued in 1914
after Gen. Horry's death, and the title
page boldly claims that 1t was "By
Brigadier General P. Horry.". New
matter was also put in. In subsequent
editions Weems and Horny are pu,
down as joint authors.
James History.
In 1921 Judge William Dobier
James. author of Marion's soldiers
published his history Of Marion's bri
gade. In the preface he says: 81
hear that the late Gen. Peter Horny
had preserved copies Of Gen Marion's
correspondence with Gen. Green and
other officers; and I applied to the
executor. Mr.. James Guignard, who
very politely placed Ave duodecimc
volumes in my hands. closely writer
by the general. The originals were
left by Gen. Horny with the Rev. M
L. Weems, but 1t appears he made nc
use OF them in his Life Of Marion"
I said at the outset Of the contro.
versy that the story Of the sweet DO.
tato dinner could not be authenticat.
ed. II 1t can be found In Horny.
manuscript history. In James history
or In any letter, diary or journal O,
any Of Marion's soldiers, will mo-
only admit that It is authenticated
but will subscribe to a fund to pur.
chase bronze tablet commemorative
the incident, to be erected in the State
House or In some other conspicuou.
place. but as long as 1t is to be fount
only In story books, which can be dis.
credited on almost every historical
matter which they undertake to dis
cuss. will refuse to accept it's authen.
ticity and will exert what little in
fuence I possess with students of oul
history to have them take the sam,
stand.
A. S. Sally, Jr.
Columbia. s. c.. May 21, 1909.