It does not accord with what we know of his modesty, his unaffected nature, and the general simplicity of his manners. He instilled his lessons by examples rather than by speeches. His words were usually very few.
He secured the fidelity of his men by carrying them bravely into action, and bringing them honorably out of it.
Marion's career of activity commenced with his command.
Though always prudent, he yet learned that prudence in military life must always imply activity. The insecurity of the encampment, with a militia force, is always greater than that of battle.
The Roman captains of celebrity were particularly aware of this truth.
But the activity of Marion was necessarily straitened by the condition in which he found his men. They were wretchedly deficient in all the materials of service. His first effort to supply some of their wants, was in sacking the saw-mills. The saws were wrought and hammered by rude blacksmiths into some resemblance to sabres, and thus provided, Marion set his men in motion, two days after taking the command.
Crossing the Pedee at Port's Ferry, he advanced upon a large body of Tories commanded by Major Gainey, who held a position upon Britton's Neck.
Gainey was considered by the British an excellent partisan officer, but he was caught napping. Marion moved with equal secrecy and celerity.
After riding all night, he came upon the enemy at dawn in the morning.
The discovery and the attack were one. The surprise was complete.
A captain and several privates were slain, and the party dispersed.
Marion did not lose a man, and had but two wounded. In this engagement, our representative, Major James, distinguished himself, by singling out Major Gainey for personal combat. But Gainey shrank from his more powerful assailant, and sought safety in flight.
James pursued for a distance of half a mile. In the eagerness of the chase he did not perceive that he was alone and unsupported. It was enough that he was gaining upon his enemy, who was almost within reach of his sword, when the chase brought them suddenly upon a body of Tories who had rallied upon the road. There was not a moment to be lost.
Hesitation would have been fatal. But our gallant Major was not to be easily intimidated. With great coolness and presence of mind, waving his sword aloft, he cried out, "come on, boys! here they are!"and rushed headlong upon the group of enemies, as if perfectly assured of support. The ruse was successful. The Tories broke once more, and sought safety from their individual enemy in the recesses of Pedee swamp.
Marion did not suffer the courage of his men to cool.
In twenty-four hours after this event, he was again in motion.
Hearing of the proximity of another body of Tories, under Captain Barfield, he advanced against him with as much celerity and caution as before.
But he found Barfield strongly posted, in greater force than he expected;warned of his approach and waiting for him. It was no part of Marion's practice to expose his men unnecessarily. He had too few, to risk the loss of any precious lives, where this was to be avoided.
He determined upon a different mode of managing his enemy, and resorted to a stratagem, which, subsequently, he frequently made use of.
Putting a select party of his men in ambush near the Blue Savannah, he feigned retreat with another, and thus beguiled his enemy from his strong position. The result accorded with his wishes.
Barfield followed and fell into the snare. The defeat was equally complete with that of Gainey.
The conduct and skill, in managing his raw militia-men, which these two achievements displayed, naturally inspired his followers with confidence in themselves and their leader. They produced a corresponding effect upon the people of the country, and were productive of no small annoyance to the Tories, who were thus suddenly reminded that there might be retribution for crime even when sheltered under the dragon folds of England.
Another benefit from these occurrences was in better providing the brigade with some of the proper weapons and munitions of war.
Among the recent captures of Marion were two old field-pieces.
Returning to Port's Ferry, he threw up a redoubt on the east bank of the Pedee, upon which he mounted them. He seldom troubled himself with such heavy baggage, and probably disposed of them in this way, quite as much to disencumber himself of them, as with any such motive, as was alleged, when placing them in battery, of overawing the Tories by their presence. Movements of so rapid a kind, and so frequently made as his, requiring equal dispatch and secrecy, forbade the use of artillery;and he very well knew, that, to employ men for the maintenance of isolated posts -- such posts as he could establish, --would have no other effect than to expose his brigade to the chances of being cut up in detail.
On the 17th August, the day following the defeat of Gates, -- of which event he was as yet wholly ignorant -- he dispatched Col. Peter Horry, with orders to take command of four companies, Bonneau's, Mitchell's, Benson's and Lenud's, near Georgetown, on the Santee; to destroy all the boats and canoes on the river from the lower ferry to Lenud's --to break up and stop all communications with Charleston, and to procure, if possible, supplies of gunpowder, flints and bullets.
"Twenty-five weight of gunpowder, ball or buckshot,"is the language of his orders. This will show how scanty were the supplies which were to be procured of the material upon which everything depended.
Marion frequently went into action with less than three rounds to a man --half of his men were sometimes lookers on because of the lack of arms and ammunition -- waiting to see the fall of friends or enemies, in order to obtain the necessary means of taking part in the affair.
Buck-shot easily satisfied soldiers, who not unfrequently advanced to the combat with nothing but swan-shot in their fowling-pieces.
