Marion pursues major Muckleworth -- fine anecdote of the major --Marion's generosity to him.
Learning that a detachment of the British were marching up Black river towards Statesburgh and Camden, general Marion gave orders to chase;which was conducted, as usual, with such rapidity, that about sunset of the second day we came up with them. Our advance, composed of choice fellows, instantly began to skirmish with the enemy, of whom they killed eight or nine. A few on both sides, rather badly wounded, were made prisoners. Marion, coming up, gave orders to call off the troops, meaning to give the enemy a serious brush in the morning. --But of this gratification they entirely disappointed us, by striking their tents and pushing off in silence before day.
Soon as light returned, and the retreat of the British was announced, we renewed the pursuit; and by late breakfast-time, reached the house at which the enemy had refreshed themselves. This house belonged to a poor, but excellent old lady, well known to Marion.
The general was hardly alighted from his horse, before the old lady had him by the hand, declaring how happy she had always been to see him, "but now," continued she, "if I an't right down sorry to see you, then I'll be hanged."Marion, with a look of surprise, asked her why she was sorry to see him NOW.
"Oh! don't I know you too well, general? don't I know that old Scratch himself can't keep you from fighting? And now you are hurrying along here, with all your men, only to fight the British. An't it so now, general?"Marion told her, that that was indeed his business.
"Well, dear me now! and did I not tell you so? But pray now, my dear general Marion, let me beg of you, don't you do any harm to that dear good man, that major Muckleworth,* who went from here a little while ago: for O! he's the sweetest-spoken, mildest-looking, noblest-spirited Englishman I ever saw in all my born days.
As to that Rawdon and Tarleton, God's curse upon the thieves and blackguards!
I would not care if you could kill a thousand of THEM.
But that good major Muckleworth! indeed, indeed now general, you must not hurt a hair of his head, for it would be such a crying sin."--
* Simms gives this name as "McIlraith", and James as "M`Ilraith", but in this one case, Weems' corruption of the name, which colloquially means "much worth", is more satisfying. -- A. L., 1997.
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Marion asked her in what respects was he better than other British officers.
"Better than other British officers!" replied the old lady. --"Lord bless your dear soul, general Marion! Well, come along, come along with me, and I'll let you see."We followed the old lady, who, tripping along nimble as a girl, conducted us into a clean looking cabin, wherein sat a middle-aged man very genteelly dressed, and several wounded persons lying before him, on pallets on the floor. Marion saluted the stranger, who informed us that he was "a surgeon in the service of his Britannic majesty, and left by major Muckleworth to take care of the wounded;of whom, sir, I believe that nearly one half are your own men."Here the old lady's face brightened up towards Marion; and giving him a very significant look, she said, "Ah ha, general! didn't I tell you so?"Then diving her withered hand in her pocket, she scooped up a shining parcel of English guineas, and exultingly cried out, "See there, general! see there's a sight for you? and every penny of it given me by that dear good gentleman, major Muckleworth;every penny of it, sir. Yes, and if you will but believe me, general, when I and my daughters were getting breakfast for him and his people, if he didn't come here himself with his sergeants, and had this place swept out all so sweet and clean for them poor sick people;and, with his own dear hands too, helped that gentleman there to dress and doctor the poor things, that he did.
"And then besides all that, general, he was such a sweet spoken gentleman! for when I asked him how his men came to be hurt so, he did not, like that beast Tarleton, turn black and blue in the face, and fall to cursing the d----d rebels. Oh no! not he indeed.
But he said with a smile, We got them wounded last night, madam, in a little brush with your brave countryman, general Marion.
"Now only think of that, general! And besides, when he was going away, what do you think he did? Why, sir, he sent for me and said, -- Well, my good madam, and what shall I pay you for all the trouble we have given you, and also for taking care of the doctor I am going to leave with you, and the sick people, who may be on your hands for a fortnight yet?
"I told him it was no business of mine to fix a price.
"He seemed surprised, and asked me what I meant by that.
"I answered that I was now all one as his prisoner, and prisoners had nothing they could call their own.
"My king, madam, said he, does not make war against widows.
"I told him I wished to God all his countrymen had remembered that! it would have saved the hunger and nakedness, and cries and tears of many a poor widow and orphan. At this he seemed mightily hurt.
"I then told him that many of the British officers, after eating and drinking all that they wanted, for themselves and people, and horses, instead of turning round to pay, as he had done, had turned in to plunder, and then set fire to the houses, not leaving the widows and children a cover over their heads, nor a bit of bread for their mouths, nor a stitch of clothes for their backs.
"My God! said he, and is this the way that my countrymen have come here to carry on war! Well madam, (so he went on) my king does not know any thing of this, nor does the English nation, I am sure.
If they did, they would certainly call those officers to account.
Such men will ruin our cause. For the word of God assures us, that his ear is always open to the cry of the widow and orphan;and believe me, madam, I dread their cry more than I do the shouts of an enemy's army. However, madam, (continued he,)I have not a moment to lose, for I am sure general Marion is pursuing me as hard as he can, so let me know what I owe you.
