With the Swamp Fox: A Story of General Marion's Young Spies. Otis James
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General Marion should know of the encampment, Percy and I would have given them so much of a lesson as might be possible with five bullets. In fact, I found it somewhat difficult to force him along with me, so much averse was he to running away."
My uncle's stern, questioning gaze disappeared on the instant, and gripping both of us lads by the hands, he said in a most friendly tone:
"I had no reason whatsoever to question your courage, for you are members of our family; yet for the merest fraction of time it seemed as if you might perchance show the white feather when our enemies were in such force. Come with me to the general, and you shall see whether any account be taken of numbers, for now has the Cause fallen into such sore straits that every man who holds to it must consider himself equal to a dozen of the king's minions."
Our brigade was set down, rather than encamped, in the woods; there were no shelters other than such as the men made for themselves with pine boughs, and the command bore but little semblance to a military organization.
Therefore it was that we were not troubled to gain audience with the commander.
The crimson jacket could be seen a long distance away under a huge live-oak tree, nearby where were three or four men building a camp-fire, and toward that gleaming spot of color we made our way.
"I would introduce to you two members of my family, sons of the Widow Sumter," the major said as he saluted, and I was surprised at the change which passed over that serious, almost gloomy-looking face when a friendly expression came into his eyes.
It was as if he had thrown off the mask, and shown us a countenance almost the opposite to that which we had previously seen.
Nothing more was needed to tell me, that now indeed, we had a leader who was worthy to supersede my uncle.
"It pleasures me to meet with those who are akin to such a true patriot as Major James," the general said most courteously, and one needs remember that he was speaking to two lads, in order to understand how much such words meant.
"I can answer for it they will be true to any trust you may repose in them," my uncle said, and Percy gripped me by the hand that I might understand how well pleased he was at such words of praise. "It was not simply to bring the lads to your notice that I have thus introduced them, General; they have information of greatest importance."
General Marion turned toward us inquiringly, and in as few words as might be I told him of the encounter.
"A force of two thousand?" he said half to himself, and added as he looked me full in the eye. "Can you depend upon the truthfulness of the lad who made the boast?"
"Indeed we cannot, sir. I would have been inclined to doubt the entire story, had not forty or more appeared in response to Sam Lee's cries for help."
"Are you positive he spoke of Major Gainey as being in command?"
"Ay, sir; I remember well the name."
"Are you lads enlisted with this force?"
Instead of answering the question I looked toward my uncle, and he replied without hesitation:
"They are, General, if it please you to accept lads as young as they."
"It is the will and the courage, rather than the age, which we need, Major James, and unless I have made a mistake in reading their faces, these sons of the Widow Sumter may do men's work in the task which is set them."
Percy and I made our best salute, as can well be fancied and from that moment counted ourselves as being enlisted under that true general and valiant soldier, to whom the butcher Tarleton gave the name of "Swamp Fox."
The general, having acknowledged our salute, turned toward my uncle in such manner as gave us to understand that he wished to speak with him privately, and we withdrew a short distance, to where Gavin Witherspoon, an old acquaintance, was making ready for the eating a string of fish.
"Are you two lads come to see how soldiers live?" the old man asked with that peculiar grin which had earned for him the name of the "big mouthed."
"If we had, it would seem that we were come to the wrong place," Percy replied with a laugh. "Surely you are not counting yourself a soldier, Gavin Witherspoon?"
"I am allowin' I'll come as nigh to it as many who wear the king's uniform. It isn't always him who stands the stiffest that can bring down the most game, an' there's no need of my tellin' two lads by the name of Sumter that we of Williamsburg are not given to wastin' ammunition."
"Of that I am not so certain," Percy retorted, "for within the past three hours, forty, who might perhaps claim this district as their home, had fair shot at us, and within fifty-yard range, therefore you can see for yourself whether the ammunition was wasted or not."
"Forty?" Gavin cried excitedly, forgetting for the instant his camp duties at this mention of the enemy.
I was not minded to keep the old man in suspense, therefore at once told him of what we had seen, whereupon he ceased his labors as cook and began overhauling the long, smooth-bore rifle, in the use of which he might truly be called an expert.
"Are you going out single-handed in search of them?" Percy asked banteringly.
"Hark you, lads! I served under General Marion in '75, when he was only a captain, and know full well what manner of man he is. Neither he nor Major James would remain here idle after such a story as you have brought, and I venture to say this mess of fish won't be needed until they are past cookin'."
Gavin Witherspoon had no more than spoken, before we heard the word passed from man to man around the encampment that an immediate advance was to be made.
Now to the credit of the men of Williamsburg, let me set down this fact, that without the least show of hesitation, although it was understood the enemy which we had reported far outnumbered us, every member of the brigade set about his preparations for the journey with apparently as much pleasure as if bent on some merry-making.
We were not well supplied with provisions, yet there were others than Gavin Witherspoon who left the food by the fires, lest perchance they should be among the last who were ready.
I think no more than twenty minutes passed from the time of our arrival until everything was in readiness – every man mounted, except the commanding officers, and Percy said to me mournfully:
"It is like to benefit us but little, this having been enlisted under General Marion, for how may we keep pace with the horsemen?"
I had asked myself that question, and decided that on this expedition, which rightfully belonged to us because of the discovery, we must perforce be left behind.
"All appear to have forgotten us; even Gavin Witherspoon no longer looks our way," Percy continued, and it was then that our uncle called us by name.
It can well be imagined that we lost no time in obeying the summons, and, approaching to where he was standing in company with the general and a captain, we heard that which gave us much pleasure.
"Captain Mouzon has generously offered you lads a mount. His spare horses are to be found back here in the thicket, under care of the servants," my uncle said. "You will overtake us as soon as may be, and report at once to me. The general has been pleased to detail you for special duty."
While speaking he mounted his horse, the others doing the same, and as Percy and I hurried away the word was given for the command to advance.
Even at the expense of telling over-much that may seem like dry reading, I must make especial mention of the advantage we had over the enemy, in the way of horses.
The Carolinians dearly loved a thoroughbred, and in Williamsburg district every soldier was mounted in kingly fashion.
The heavy, lumbering work-horses which were sold to the redcoats, were like snails compared with the blooded stock our people rode, and because of these did General Marion owe much of his success in the days to come, when we dashed here and there over the country, striking a blow at night twenty miles or more away from where we had hurled ourselves upon the foe in the morning.
Now we two lads knew that Captain Mouzon had in his stables not less than thirty beasts which had no superiors in