Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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GEN. FRANCIS MARION The following facts about Gen. Francis Marron are taken from the I Magazine of American History, of Sep? tember, 1893: "The British soidier trembles When Marion's name ?3 told."-Bryant. The recent erection of a new mon? ument over the grave of General Francis Marion, in place of the one which had marked the spot for nearly a century, calls to mind the daring exploits of one of the most distin? guished heroes of thc American Rev? olution. The original tomb was built of brick surmounted with a marble slab bearing an elaborate in? scription. Several years ago a large tree was blown down, and falling di? rectly across the tomb wrecked jit completely, breaking the slab into fragments. The inscription, too, had become almost obliterated by the ac? tion of the elements. It was time, therefore, that a new monument were erected, even if the accident had not occurred. The new memorial erected by the general assemby of the State is of solid Winnsboro granite The base block is thirty inches wide, six and a half feet long, and fifteen inches high ; upon this rests the centre, or die-block, thirty inches high, and weighing about three tons, upon which are the inscriptions wrought upon bronze panels sunk in the sides of the block and permanently secured. At the ends of the die-block are the dates of his birth and death-"1732 " "1795"-cut into the granite. The material of the old structure has been used up entirely in the con? crete foundation of the new work thus identifying the old with the new monument-excepting only the frag? ments of the old slab, which have been carefully preserved for the further action of the State authorities It is gratifying to notice that the original epitaph upon the old tomb has been' carefully transcribed upon the bronze panel of the new as fol? lows : SOLDIERS' MONUMENT TO GENERAL FRANCIS MARION Sacred to the Memory of GENERAL FRANCIS MARION Who departed this life on the 27th February 1795, in the 63rd year of his age, Deeply regretted by ali bis fellow citizens. History will record his worth and rising generations embalm his memory as one of the most distinguished Patriots and Heroes of THS AMERICAN REVOLUTION, ftrhich elevated his native country to Honor and Independence .?and secured to ber the blessings of Liberty and Peace. This tribute of veneration and gratitude is erected in commemoration of the noble and disinterested virtues of the citizen and the gallant exploits of the soldier who lived without fear and died without reproach. The opposite side of the die block bears another panel in bronze, with the coat-ofarni8 of the State, and the following inscription : To preserve to posterity this burial place ot' an honored son The Geueml Assembly of South Carolina replaces the crumbling and broken tomb nearly a century old, with this enduring memorial cut from her own granite hills. Esto perpetua, 1893. Marion's first military experience was in the Cherokee war of 1761, which, however, was of short dura ration. But in 1775, when war was declared with England, he promptly took the field as captain in the sec? ond Carolina regiment. But he was without men or money, and linking his fortunes with another as destitute as himself, and finding they could get nothing from the assembly or from their friends in Charleston, they boldly ordered appropriate uniforms, and thus equipped made another ap? peal, and procured contributions to the amount of one hundred dollars, paid for their regimentals, and start? ed for Georgetown to recruit their companies. In a little while they had enrolled sixty men each and re? turned to Charleston harbor, arriving in time to participate in driving off the British fleet (June 28, 1776), Marion in the mean time being pro? moted to the rank of major. It is said that it was reserved for him to fire the last shot at the re? treating commodore's ship, the gun being, ready, loaded, and nothing to be done but level it and apply the match Such was the havoc effected by this one shot, as reported by five impressed seamen who managed to escape in the confusion, that two officers were killed in the cabin, three sailors on the main deck were wounded, and the forecastle was badly wrecked before the force of the shot was spent and it fell sullenly into sea. News of the Declaration of Inde? pendence did not reach Charleston until the 20th of September. Savan? nah was now threatened, and finally surrendered to the British,, and Charleston soon encountered the same fate. Marion meantime, having ac? cidentally broken an ankle, escaped in a litter to his seat in St. John's par? ish, and as soon as he could be'moved ! set out for the north, for such inforcements as he could procr. With the first ten men he started retrace his steps These were jon by others to the number of thir well mounted and well armed ; 2 now began his history as a pa san leader. He adopted tactics of his owi living on the enemy, depending him for arms, ammunition, cai equipage, horses, and forage lowing his men frequent parol j subject to summons, his force vt j economically maintained, and rea ly augmented on emergency, varyi from thirty or forty to two hundr men, with which latter number he one time surprised six hundred the enemy, seized the arms, equ menls. and stores, and marched the off a3 prisoners. On another occasion, with a for of only thirty men, he surprised British guard of ninety, having tv hundred ?\raerican prisoners on the way to Charleston, seizing the arms, which were all stacked ne the gate, and made prisoners of ll whole party without having be< obliged to kill more than three them. After everything had bee secured, on searc* ,:ng for the ca? lain of the party, he was found 1; the chimney. Strange to say, n< one of the two hundred prisoners i" had rescued could be persuaded l shoulder a musket. All were anxioi to be relieved and go home, an Marion had no desire to recruit h little force with such material. H now had more arms and munition of war than he .knew what to d with, and 60 retreated to Britton' Neck with his plunder, and estai lished a little arsenal there. After a brief rest at this plac< learning that thc tories were mustei ing in force on the Pedee, he mount ed his men, and, after a brisk ride c about forty miles, came upon thei encampment in the dead of nigh when all were asleep. Not a sho was fired on eithetr side until Mario: and his inen were4 in the camp, load ing the arms and ammunition upoi the captured horses of the party. O the forty-nine men who compos?e the company, Marion's men kille< and took about thirty, and fell bael in good order to Brittan's Necfc each leading a horse loaded witi plunder, and without the loss of ? man. News of these reported exploiti spread like wildfire over the country to the dismay of the British and theil allies, who soon sent three well mounted companies to smoke out the "Swamp Fox" and his followers But Marion made a masterly retreat to the north, the British falling back upon Georgetown and the tories ti Black Mingo, where they made a stand. But Marion's scouts soon brought him news of the camp, and he promptly turned and attacked them at night, as usual, although the tories were twice his strength and well posted Nothing could with? stand the fury of the attack ; tho commanding officer was soon killed, and two-thirds of his men were hors de combat when the survivors mounted their horses and escaped. Loading his horses with such plunder as could be secured, and destroying the fragments, he now promised his men a little rest, and led them down to Waccamaw, where he had some wealthy patriot friends among the planters. The descend? ants of the Hugers, Trapiers and Alstons are very fond of relating how their ancestors feasted General Marion and his men after this adven? ture. But Marion and his men were a band of heroes, and their reputation was such that neither friends nor foes allowed them much time for "rest,'' however well deserved. After a very few days of their rest and high feeding at Waccamaw, they were in ther saddles again, sixty strong, headed for the Pedee, where the tories were again mustering a force to surprise the "Swamp Fox" and treat him and his men to some of their own music. Halting within a few miles of the place, he sent for? ward two trusty scouts who secreted themselves at the side of the public road leading to the tory camp, care? fully noting all they could hear and see, and returning to the Marion bivouac at night, confirmed the news that had been given. Soon as the night had well set in, the eager little band were again on the backs of their horses, and, riding at a nimble gait, soon came within sight of the three fires of the enemy ; for so lit/le thought had they of Marion or his men that they had not posted a single sentinel. Marion picketed his horses at a convenient distance, and, dividing j his men into three parties, proceeded ! cautiously until they could hear the voices of the tories as they sat at cards or occupied themselves with singing, dancing, cooking, etc , when he fired his pistol as a signal, and a deadly volley responded from j sixty well-aimed rifles, killing twen- j ty-three, wounding as many more, j and ensuring more spoil than they ! ! wanted. Eighty-four stand of arms, one hundred horses and their equip? ments, camp equipage, a plentiful sup? per ready cooked, a half barrel of old peach brandy, and thirteen half drunken prisoners were the result of this frolic. Loading up their pieces and load? ing the captured horses with the plunder, the victorious little band now returned to their camp in the ; swamp and prepared to enjoy a se j son of actual rest ! A surprise, however, was in ato j for Marion and his officers, in tl j shape of an express from Govern* ! Rutledge with a general's cotnmi ! sion for Colonel Marion and fi: j colonelcies for his two captain j But there was not a man added t the force nor a dollar to their e: ? chequer Marion called his office: about him and told then) the go^ ernor had given them dominion ove the land and sea from Charleston t Georgetown, and thence westerly t Camden and back to Charlesto again, if the could take it from th British, wiiich they must now pn ceed to do. And, said he: "W are to be generals and colonels no^ ??om this time forth and forever." The chivalry of Georgetown an its vicinity now flocked to the star dard and the camp of Marion, ans ious to be enrolled upon his 8taff, o to enlist in the ranks and particip?t in the crusades of "Marion's men. Their numbers were increased b new enlistments, and notwithstand ing the proclamations of Lord Corn wallis and the cruelties of his "de luded followers," as Marion stylfi the tories, "Marion's men" were constant menace and terror to thi British forces to the very close o the war. "The British soldier trembled When Marion's name was told." MARION'S FLIGHT TO NORTH CAROLINA. Early in December, 1780, Corn wallis determined, if possible, to cu short the career of Marion, and de spatched Lieutenant-Colonel Tarletoi with a superior force, which was t( have been joined by a legion fron Camden for the purpose. Bu Marion got wind of the matter anc sent Major James tc reconnoitre James reported the enemy in such force that an order was promptly given to break camp and fall back tc Lynch's Creek, and the next evening Marion commenced his "flight tc North Carolina, " accompanied bj only sixty men, pitching his camp finally near the head of VVaccamaw, In the meantime he had sent his men back to South Carolina to rally the militia prepared to rejoin him on signal, and determined on his part to decoy Tarleton into some morass where his cavalry and artillery would be of no avail, and, perhaps, take him back a prisoner. This brief campaign of December, 1780, proved to be ono of the most active of tb~ war. Taking advan? tage of the ; sence of Marion, the Tories and their allies had committed every description of outrage upon the people, and especially upon such as were attainted of treason. ( The result was, that as soon as Marion's signals had been given out, the little "brigade" seemed to rise up out of the very earth, with the face of every man turned toward Snow's island. "Each calley, each sequestered glen, Sent forth its little band of men." And Marion and his captains in their turn, fighting their way back as they had opportunity, were soon under the leafy canopy of the ren? dezvous Several of these running engagements were of signal impor? tance The whole south state seem? ed to be aroused, and Cornwallis sent an express to recall Colonel Tarleton from his fruitless beating of the bushes and marshes in search for Marion, who, he said, "has so wrought upon the minds, of the peo? ple that there is scarcely an inhabi? tant between the Santee and Pedee that is not in arms against us Some parties have even crossed -the Santee and carried terror to the gates of Charleston " Tarleton, already jaded out and sick of his muddy chase of Marion, and discouraged at the 6?ght of "Ox ?wamp," to whioh he had been lured, was only too happy to obey the sum? mons; and, turning to his men, ex? claimed : "Come, boys, let us go back We will soon find the Game Cock (Sumter), but as for this d-d Swamp Fox, the devil himself couldn't catch him." It was from this circumstance, it is said, that Sumter and Marion de? rived the popular appellations by which they were ever after known. Sumters men adopted the game cock as their badge, and Marion's men wore a fox-tail in their caps Tarleton now obtained leave to hunt in the other direction for "the game cock," but from this time forth Tarleton proved unfortunate and Marion's star was in the ascendant. Several expedition, more or less j formidable, were sent against him, j but he either eluded them or lured j them to their own destruction. The war was now drawing to a close, but was j prosecuted with untiring vigor and energy upou both sides until the final evacuation of Charleston in 1782. THE SWORD OF MARION. Found 07i Snow's Island, South Carolina, by Captain T. N. Britton, in the year 1826 or 1827. Captain Britton, in forwarding this valuable relic to Mr. S Emanuel of Georgetown (June 20, 1870), in order ' that it might be present at the Fort j Moultrie Centennial (June 28th), said: "I found this sword in a limb of a sycamore tree on Snow's Island, the 1 tree having been blown down. The | negroes made a fire in a large limb ; | when the limb burnt into the tree, it ? exposed the point, of tho sword, which ! was io the hollow of the limb. The fire and weight of thc limb broke thc | scabbaid and bent the blade so that I ! t cut a part of thc blade and scabbard off. I see marked oo the handle "F M. 1776." which I saw on it the day after I fouod the sword. You cm j make what disposition of it you see ; proper. Very respectfully yours. T N. BRITTON." The inscription spoken of is on the back of the hilt, and bas evidently been scratched in with the point of a penknife, probably by Marion him ?elf. The blade is a French cut-and-thrust, the scabbard of copper, the grip of ivory, aod al! the mountings originally plated with silver, traces of which re? main It is unmistakably an officer's sword, and was originally a stylish affair-mere of a dress sword, however, than a weapon for service, and was probably hung upon the tree and left behind on Snow's island while Marion and his men were off on some of their raids. It was deeply embedded in the wood of the tree wheo discovered by Captain Britton, and nothing b- *ire or the woodman's ase would ever have released it. Two other circumstances concur in assisting us to identify this as the veri table sword of Marion. (See Note to Simms' Life of Marion ) Simms says: ''The dislike or indiff?re:jj of Marion to anything like mere military ! display was a matter of occasional com- j ment and some jest among his followers, j Among other proofs which are given of this indifference, we are told that on oneoccasioo. attempting to draw his sword from the scabbard, he failed to do so, io consequence of the rust, the re? sult of his infrequent employment of the weapon. (Certainly a rich event in the life of a military man.) . . . LoDg swords were then in fashion, but he continued to wearbe small cut-and thrust of the second regiment." Such a weapon better suited his inferior physique, and necessarily lessened the motives to personal adventure." Now, thissword is a "small cut-aDd tbrust ;" it is very slightly rusted, even after all these years, tbere being oo affinity between the steel blade and the copper scabbard, but it is very snugly fitted, aod is therefore difficult to draw Marion wore it as a designation-mora for ornament than use-and, owing to "bia inferior physique," as above quoted, the pistol was bis favorite weapon. ' It was discovered by Captain Britton himself, and remained in his possession nfty years before be seDt it to Mr. Emanuel to be loaned to the Fort Moul? trie Centennial. June 28, 1876; and has been in the possession of Mr. Emanuel ever since. The peouliar character of the sword and the re? markable manner of its preservation admit of no doobt io the miod of any expert that it is the veritable "cut-aod thrust" sword woro by Geo eral Marioo who probably scratched bis io ir?ais up oo it himself with the binde of a pen? knife, aod hung it upon 'hat sycamore tree within his camp on Snow's island abont fifty years before it was discover? ed by Captain Britton. For a pain io the chest a piece of flan ne dampened witb Chamberlain's Pain Balm and bound on over the seat of the pain, and another on the back between tbe shoulders, will afford prompt relief. Tbis is especially valuable in cases where the pain is caused by a cold and there is a tendency toward pneu? monia. For sale by Dr. A. J. Chioa. Great and thoroughly re? liable building-up medicine, nerve tonic, vitalizcr and Pu m m uniter Before the people today, and which stands preeminently above all other medicines, is HOOD'S Sarsaparilla It has won its hold upon the hearts of the people by its ? own absolute intrinsic merit It is not what we say, but what Hood's Sarsaparilla does that tells the story: - Hood's Cures Even when all other prepar? ations and prescriptions fail. " I have been afflicted for over twenty years with a very sore limb caused by bad blood. I began taking Hood's Sarsaparilla and have been getting better ever since ana can truly say that it is the best medicine that I have ever seen." ARREXA KIT cn INO, White Pond, South Carolina. I5I5 HrittrTc: Pilic :uv tasteless.mild, offec 11UUU i> I Illative. A\\ druggists. 25c Obtained, ami "?I l'ATEXT nrslSiXS at tended io t-?r Jj'OIUlli.1TE FEES Our ..?lire is opposite th?- I'. S i'sitorit Oluee. and wo ?ill ob? tain Patent* in less limo [lum ?.In*.- reiimto from M ASHISti'J'OS. Semi MODEL. /'/." ? HV.W; or PHOTO of invention. Wo i:?lviso ? . |?ntent III ?. ! i tv fres'of oliari?o si tul wo ittsi'ko .VO < IIAIIOE UNLESS PA TE XT IS SEt.U !:/?::> For circular, advice, tenn.-; J??.? references to actual clients in your own State. Cornily. City or Sown, write to KSWTCHOTvnsr?rYBFtt&ir* \ Opposite Patent Office. Washington, J). & SB S Sn Pull Leather Binding. 9 In Heavy Cloth Binding. These prices are offered only to Subscribers to the Watchman and Southron Who pay one year in advance. It is an unprecedented offer and was never approached in this section. -FOR You obtain the best weekly paper in the State-eight pages of the latest news and miscellaneous reading and a Leather Bound Webster's Una? bridged Dictionary, former price of Dictionary $10. I have bought a lot of them at a reduced price and offer them at a still greater reduction as a premium. Remember that it is the UNABRIDGED WEBSTER and not a cut edition. Come at once before the stock of Dictionaries is exhausted. . The Watchman and Southron has been abie to make special Club Rates with the following named, well known papers and periodicals. The^ prices enumerated are in addition to the reg? ular subscription ($1.50 a year) of The Watchman & Southron: Home and Farm, 30c. Washington Post, 30c. Womankind, 15c. Cosmopolitan, 90c. Farm News. 15c. Munsey's Magazine, 85c. " Atlanta Constitution, 55c. Standard Delineator, 85c. N. Y. Thrice-a-Week World, 60c. These prices are strictly cash in advance in conjunction with subscription to the Watchman & Southron. Send remittances to JS. G. ?STEEN, SUMTER, S. C. TO ARRIVE DURING THE WEER, Say, on January 15th, One Car Load Horses. -IN AND One Car Load Horses. AND One Car Load Mules. About January 18th. H. BARBY. Jan. 15, 1896. HEADQUARTERS FOB Bargain ? IS AT T. C. SCAFFE S, FOR THE NEXT SIXTY DAYS WILL SELL AT IO per cent. 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Guarantee a good fiow of water. Remember the old reliable and give him a call. T. C. SCAFFE. Dec 4.