第 18 节
作者:江暖      更新:2021-02-19 20:44      字数:9321
  her husband; and she sought and obtained it elsewhere。
  * Chapter II Paragraph 8。  A。 L。
  To people of good feelings; but particularly the religious; this period
  (1780     and    1781)    was    truly  distressing。    From     the   time   of   the  fall  of
  Charleston; all public education was at an end; and soon after; all public
  worship was discontinued。 Men from sixty years of age; down to boys of
  fourteen; (few of whom dared to stay at home) were engaged in active and
  bloody warfare。 These had their minds in constant occupation; which; in
  whatever   moral   situation   a   man   may   be   placed;   brings   with   it   a   certain
  degree of satisfaction; if not contentment。 All were actuated by the love of
  country; and but few by the love of fame: and next to the duties of religion;
  the exercise of those  of patriotism  excites the  highest energy  and   brings
  the most sublime satisfaction to the human mind。 But to the female sex;
  and the superannuated of the male; little consolation of that nature could
  be afforded。 Even these were exposed to that kind of danger which might
  be   inflicted   by   brutality  at   home;   and   most   of   them  had   relatives   in   the
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  field to whom they were bound by the most tender and sacred ties; who
  were     subjected      to  constant     dangers;     and    for   whose     fate   they    were
  unceasingly anxious。  There was no place for the pleasures of society; for
  in the country these were too remote from a home that must constantly be
  watched。 As   a   comfort in this situation   females   employed   themselves   in
  domestic occupations; in which that of the distaff had a considerable share;
  and all might indeed have exercised their private devotions; but that faint
  picture     of    heaven;     that   sweet     consolation      which      is  derived      from
  associating with one's friends in public worship; was wholly denied them。
  Most of the churches in towns and the country; were either burnt or made
  depots   for   the   stores   of   the   enemy;   some   in   fact   were   converted   into
  stables;   and   of   the   remainder;   all   in   the   country   were   closed。      In   a
  warfare   of   such   atrocity   there   was   little   safety   in   any   situation   where
  numbers   were   collected;   and   as   we   have   seen   that   the   tories;   by   their
  murders; violated the sanctity of private dwellings; how then could it be
  expected   they   would   be   awed   by   the   holiness   of   a   church?   In   a   camp;
  where   was   no   permanency   and   but   little   rest;   there   was   no   place   for
  chaplains;*   and   at   home   there   was   not   security   even   for   pious   pastors;
  consequently; as the most prudent course; they generally went into exile。
  Among   these   one   shall   be   mentioned;   the   Rev。   Dr。   Thomas   Reese;   of
  Salem;      on   Black     river。  It  was    in  his   congregation       that   the  murders
  perpetrated       by    Harrison      and    his   followers      first  began;     and    three
  respectable men of his flock had already fallen victims to civil rage。 Had
  he gone about to administer comfort out of his own family; it would have
  been termed sedition; and Dr。 Reese would have made himself a voluntary
  martyr。   He   took   the   wiser   course   of   retiring   with   his   family   before   the
  storm;     and    under    many     privations;    continued      to  preach。     In  theology;
  modern philosophy; and all the sciences connected with his profession he
  was   deeply   read。   For   classic   literature;   which   it   is   so   common   for   the
  superficial to decry; he was a great advocate; and to evince his sincerity
  retained his knowledge of the dead languages as long as he lived。 In his
  discourses   he   was   neither   an   extempore   preacher;   nor   did   he   read。   He
  wrote   out   his   sermons   correctly;   and   then   committing   them   carefully   to
  memory;   left   the   copy  at   home;   and   afterwards   delivered   them  from   the
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  pulpit with all the energy of extemporary preaching; and so tenacious was
  his memory that he was never known to faulter。 He wrote many excellent
  sermons; all of which except two; preserved in the American Preacher; and
  those not his best; are believed to be lost。 He also wrote an essay 〃on the
  influence     of  religion    in  civil  society〃;   which;    from   Princeton     college;
  where he was educated; obtained for him the degree of Doctor of Divinity。
  But like   most American productions;  it   was soon   neglected;  and   did not
  pass   into   a   second   edition。   In   contemplating   the   meek   and   unobtrusive
  virtues of   this pious   man;  we   do   not   hesitate   to say  he   was   a   pattern   of
  Christian charity; as nearly resembling his divine master as has been seen
  in   modern   times。   The   author   knew   him   well   for   several   years   after   the
  peace of 1782; he was his friend and tutor; and he owes to Dr。 Reese the
  highest obligations; and to his memory the most profound respect。
  * Marion was often without a surgeon to dress his wounded; and if a
  wound reached an artery the patient bled to death。
  Chapter III。
  CAMPAIGN OF 1781。
  The year 1781 commenced under auspices more propitious than those
  of the last year。 The British had exercised so much oppression and rapacity
  over all those who would not join them; and so much insolence over those
  who did; and were in the least suspected; that the people of South Carolina
  found there was no alternative but between a state of downright vassalage
  and warfare。 Most of the men of principle already had; or were prepared to
  take   up   arms   against   the   enemy;   and   in   general   the   unprincipled   only
  remained with them in the expectation of plunder。 Their army too; being
  divided into different cantonments over the country; while it extended their
  oppression; exposed their weakness。 The history of all ages shows that a
  country     may     be  overrun     with   more    facility   than   kept   in   a  state  of
  subjection; and   that   a  partisan   warfare is the  best   that   can be   carried   on
  against an enemy of superior force and discipline。
  During      the  present    winter    Lord    Cornwallis      formed     a  design    of
  conquering the upper counties of North Carolina; and marched by the way
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  of Charlotte towards Salisbury; for that purpose。 This part of the country
  was    thickly    covered    with   underwood;       and   settled  by   a  hardy   race   of
  industrious yeomanry; all friends of their country。 He was fired upon from
  behind bushes and fences; trees and rocks; by companies in ambush; and
  individuals on foot and on horseback; and was so much annoyed that he
  was obliged to retreat back to Winnsborough。 The news of this expedition
  was   industriously   spread       abroad;   and   encouraged      the   people   of   South
  Carolina to   follow   the  example。   In   the mean   time;   Gen。   Gates   had been
  superceded in the command of the southern army by Gen。 Greene。
  With the character of this leader it is intended to make the reader better
  acquainted than he has been heretofore。 His command begun with a good
  omen; which in all times has had its effect。 In a few hours after his arrival
  in camp at Charlotte; he received the news that Col。 Washington had taken
  Rugely and one hundred men; by the well known stratagem of mounting a
  pine log over against his block house; which he mistook for a field piece。*
  Gen。   Greene   had   not   only   no   more   than   one   thousand   continentals   and
  about as many militia; but was also bare of ammunition and clothing; and
  had no money to pay them。 With this force he marched down to Pedee; in
  South Carolina; and took a position near Hick's creek; on the east side of
  the river; not many miles from Chatham。 From this place his first despatch
  to Gen。 Marion is dated; the 19th Jan。 1781; in which he says; 〃by the last
  accounts;   Lieut。   Col。   Tarleton   was   in   motion;   with   about   one   thousand
  troops; towards Gen。 Morgan。〃 On the 23d Jan。 Gen。 Greene congratulates
  Marion on Morgan's victory over Tarleton; and writes him the particulars。
  On the 25th he says; 〃before this I hope you have received the agreeable
  news of the defeat of Lieut。 Col。 Tarleton。 After this