Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-26

He had no confidants. His lieutenants
never knew when they were to start on
an expedition until they saw potatoes
being cooked in quantities. This they
knew meant business, His men lived
principally on potatoes. A little lean
beef occasionally was great treat. No
one lived more simply than Marion. His
favorite drink was vinegar and water.
He ate sparingly at all times and could
stand almost any amount OF fatigue.
SNOW ISLAND
No one knew the Pedee and Santee
country better than did the leader of
the Ragged brigade. Early in the days
OF his leadership he established head
quarters at Snow island bit of land
near where Lynchs creek meets tho
Pedce. Swamps and forests, ravincs
and tangled thickets made this place
an ideal retreat for the chicftain and
his band. From out of this stronghold
they sailed, usually Mt night. to range
the country round. First Marion had
to battle with the Tory bands that In
tested the district. Then, as his forces
Increased, he extended the sphere of his
operations, It was only n few days
after he had learned of the defeat OF
Gates that he rescued $50 Continental
prisoners at Nelson's Ferry, after a
fight In which the British lost % men.
1t was soon after this that Tarleton
tried his hand at Marion. Tarleton's
force was twice that OF Marion and for
seven days tho Swamp Fox led the
English Greyhound as pretty a chase as
ever the trooper had known. Tarleton
did not dare to spread out his force to
any degree for fear Marion would cut
off one wing and then the other. Marion
m ltro ~, I1t \
of Marion's liking and there fight him.
Unable to catch Marion and unwilling
to fight rs Marion wanted to fight,
Tarleton gave up the case.
IN ACTION.
After the Tarleton affair Marion
made an unsuccessful attempt to cap
ture Georgetown. Whatever disap-
pointment he felt over his failure was
overbalanced by the news he received
a little later of the battle of Kings
Mountain and the appointment of Gen.
Greene to succeed Gen. Gates.
Following Tarleton's Ill success Corn
wallis sent Col. Watson out with n
large force to crush Marion. Instead
of crushing Marion. Marion came with
in an ace of crushing Watson. He
gave that man and his followers such
a beating as they never had before
and they fed from him as they would
from pestllence.
Marion also swooped down upon a
force commanded by Maj. McIlraith
When the two bodies were about to
fight McIlraith made a proposition such
perhaps as mad not been made In bat
tie since the days of chivalry. He Of
fered to submit the issue to 20 men on
each side. II the British won the bat
tie was to be a British victory. II the
Americans. II was to be an American
victory. Marion accepted the challenge
and selected his men. McIlraith was
slow in choosing his champions 1t
was late in the dav and after the Brit
ish 20 had taken position they were
ordered back to the camp by an officer
They didn't return to the field to meet
the Americans. and In the night the
whole British force decamped. For this
retreat McIlraith practically was drum
med out of the British army
a MEAL OF POTATOES.
There is a story told of a visit to
Marion's stronghold at Snow island by
a young British officer from the COM
mnndant at that post. The young man
was taken to the island blindfolded He
mover had seen Marion The generals
he knew were portly. CORVALLIS was
huge. So were most OF the British and
American general officers. They aver
aged more than 200 pounds. Marion's
fame throughout tho lowlands was so
great that tho young officer looked for
a man OF towering figure. His aston
fshment was great when he saw a man
Weighing less than 100 pounds and was
told this was Marion. That SO slight