Patriotism of Mrs. Jenkins -- colonel Watson, colonel Doyle, and the tories, make alarming advances upon general Marion -- his men begin to desert him --Horry turns orator, and harangues the troops -- they repeat their assurances of patriotism and attachment to Marion --he dashes out again upon the enemy -- prospects brighten --and the good old cause begins to look up again.
It was not for the British and Marion to lie long at rest in the same neighborhood. After a short repose, Colonel Watson, with a stout force of regulars and tories, made an inroad upon Pedee;which was no sooner known in our camp, than Marion pushed after him.
We presently struck their trail; and after a handsome day's run, pitched our tents near the house of the excellent widow Jenkins, and on the very spot which the British had left in the morning.
Colonel Watson, it seems, had taken his quarters that night in her house;and learning that she had three sons with Marion, all active young men, he sent for her after supper, and desired her to sit down and take a glass of wine with him. To this request, a good old lady of taste and manners could have no objection: so waiting upon the colonel, and taking a chair which he handed her, she sat down and emptied her glass to his health. He then commenced the following conversation with her:
"So, madam, they tell me you have several sons in general Marion's camp;I hope it is not true."
She said it was very true, and was only sorry that it was not a thousand times truer.
"A thousand times truer, madam!" replied he with great surprise, "pray what can be your meaning in that?""Why, sir, I am only sorry that in place of three, I have not three thousand sons with general Marion.""Aye indeed! well then, madam, begging your pardon, you had better send for them immediately to come in and join his majesty's troops under my command: for as they are rebels now in arms against their king, should they be taken they will be hung as sure as ever they were born.""Why, sir," said the old lady, "you are very considerate of my sons;for which at any rate I thank you. But, as you have begged my pardon for giving me this advice, I must beg yours for not taking it.
My sons, sir, are of age, and must and will act for themselves.
And as to their being in a state of rebellion against their king, I must take the liberty, sir, to deny that.""What, madam!" replied he, "not in rebellion against their king? shooting at and killing his majesty's subjects like wolves! don't you call that rebellion against their king, madam?""No, sir," answered she: "they are only doing their duty, as God and nature commanded them, sir.""The d---l they are, madam!"
"Yes, sir," continued she, "and what you and every man in England would glory to do against the king, were he to dare to tax you contrary to your own consent and the constitution of the realm.
'Tis the king, sir, who is in rebellion against my sons, and not they against him. And could right prevail against might, he would as certainly lose his head, as ever king Charles the First did."Colonel Watson could hardly keep his chair under the smart of this speech: but thinking it would never do for a British colonel to be rude to a lady, he filled her glass, and saying, "he'd be d--n-d if she were not a very plain-spoken woman at any rate," insisted she would drink a toast with him for all.
She replied she had no objection.
Then filling the glasses round, he looked at her with a constrained smile, and said, "Well, madam, here's George the Third.""With all my heart, sir!" and turned off her bumper with a good grace.
After a decent interval of sprightly conversation, he called on the widow for a toast; who very smartly retorted, "Well, sir, here's George Washington!" At which he darkened a little, but drank it off with an officer-like politeness.
The next morning early, we left the good Mrs. Jenkins;and burning with impatience to give Watson another race, we drove on Jehu-like.
We encamped that night almost within sight of the enemy's fires: but found them too much on the alert for surprise. We kept, however, a good look out, and learning next morning, that a roosting party were out, Marion detached my brother colonel Horry, with some choice cavaliers, to attack them; which he did with such spirit, that at the first onset he killed nine, and made the balance, sixteen, all prisoners.
The rogues were so overloaded with plunder, that for their lives they could not regain their camp, though in full view of it when they were charged. This brilliant stroke of my brother, threw the enemy's camp into the utmost hurry and uproar;and their dragoons were quickly mounted, dashing out to rescue their comrades;but in vain, for my brother brought them all off in safety to our camp.
Our strength at this time was far inferior to that of the enemy.
But it soon became alarmingly reduced. For learning that, besides this heavy force under Watson, there was another from Camden under colonel Doyle, and also of mounted tories from Pedee, all in full march against us, our men took a panic and began to desert, and those who stayed behind looked very serious, and talked as if certain ruin both to themselves and families would follow from their continuing to fight in so hopeless a cause.
In answer to these desponding gentlemen, I replied, that I was ashamed and grieved too, to hear them talk at that rate.
"Our prospects," said I, "gentlemen, are to be sure dark, very dark;yet thank God, they are not desperate. We have often before now seen as heavy clouds hanging over us; and yet with heaven's blessing on our arms, those clouds have been dispersed, and golden days restored.
