USA > South Carolina > The history of South Carolina in the Revolution, 1780-1783 > Part 21
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On arriving at Fort Motte, he found the place had fallen, that Marion had already proceeded upon the line of Rawdon's retreat, and Lee was advancing upon Fort Granby. There was still abundant time for Sumter to have returned and harvested the laurels that he had antici- pated from the fall of that place, upon which he had so much set his heart, and for which his faithful lieutenant, Colonel Taylor, had prepared the way during his absence
1 Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 121; Life of General Edward Lacey, 24 ; Mills's Statistics of So. Ca , 716 ; Moultrie's Memoirs, vol. II, 251.
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by so harassing the garrison that they were ready to capitulate upon the firing of the first cannon-shot. But, regarding the ultimate fall of Granby as secured, Sumter turned his immediate attention to another matter of more pressing importance. The commanding officer of the British post at Nelson's Ferry had issued orders for the inhabitants to drive down their cattle, and to bring to the line of retreat to Charlestown all the means of transportation that they could command. All the country
was in motion in pursuance of these orders.
This
Sumter determined to interrupt. Anticipating the pur- poses of the British commander, for two days he scoured the country around, seizing upon the means of transporta- tion and securing all the horses to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.1
In the meanwhile, as soon as Marion and Lee ascertained that Watson had eluded them, the disappointed comman- dants moved upon Fort Motte, and on the 8th of May besieged it. Preparatory to Lord Rawdon's retreat, orders had been sent to Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger to abandon Ninety Six and to join Browne at Augusta, and to Major Maxwell, commanding at Fort Granby, to fall back upon Orangeburgh. But these orders had been intercepted. As soon as Greene was informed of the retreat of the enemy, persuaded that Rawdon's first effort would be directed to relieve Fort Motte, he advanced towards the Congaree, determined to pass that river if necessary, and to cover the operations of the besieging corps.
This post was the principal depot of convoys from Charlestown to Camden, and sometimes of those destined for Fort Granby and Ninety Six. The fort consisted of
1 Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 121-122 ; Mills's Statistics, 276, 716; Nightingale Collection, Year Book, City of Charleston, 1899, Appendix, 20-21.
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field works around a large new mansion house belonging to Mrs. Rebecca Motte. A deep trench, along the interior margin of which was raised a strong and lofty parapet, surrounded the dwelling. To this post had been assigned an adequate garrison of about 150 men, which was now accidentally increased by a small detachment of dragoons which, on its way to Camden with despatches for Lord Rawdon, had arrived from Charlestown a few hours before the appearance of the American troops. Lieutenant Mc- Pherson, an officer highly and deservedly respected, com- manded the British post. Opposite to Fort Motte, to the north, stood another hill, where Mrs. Motte, having been turned out of her mansion, resided in an old farmhouse. On this height Colonel Lee, with his corps, took post, while General Marion occupied the eastern declivity of the ridge on which was the fort.
The fort was soon completely invested ; the six-pounder was mounted on a battery erected in Marion's quarter for the purpose of raking the northern face of the enemy's parapet, against which Lee was preparing to advance. McPherson was unprovided with artillery, and depended for safety upon timely relief, not doubting its arrival before the assailants could complete their prepara- tions.
The valley which ran between the two hills admitted safe approach within four hundred yards of the fort. This place was selected by Lee to break ground. Relays of working parties being provided for every four hours, and negroes from the neighboring plantations brought by the influence of Marion to their assistance, the works advanced with rapidity. Such was their forwardness on the 10th that it was determined to summon the commandant. A flag was accordingly despatched to McPherson, stating to him with truth their relative situations, and admonishing
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him in the phrases of the time to avoid the disagreeable consequences of an arrogant temerity. To this McPherson calmly replied that, disregarding consequences, he should continue to resist to the last moment. The retreat of Rawdon was known in the evening to the besiegers, and in the course of the night a courier arrived from General Greene confirming the report, urging redoubled activity, and announcing his determination to hasten to their sup- port. Urged by these strong considerations, Marion and Lee persevered throughout the night in pressing the com- pletion of their works. On the next day Rawdon reached a position opposite Fort Motte; and in the succeeding night, encamping on the highest ground in his route, the illumination of his fires announced his approach to the de- spairing garrison. But in vain.
The large mansion in the centre of the trench left but a few yards of the ground uncovered; burning the house must therefore force a surrender. Confident that their trenches would be within reach before noon of the next day, Marion and Lee determined to adopt the plan of setting fire to the buildings in the fort. This measure was reluc- tantly adopted. The devoted house was a large, pleasant edifice, intended for the summer residence of Rebecca Motte, whose deceased husband, Jacob Motte, a prominent citizen, had taken an active part in the earlier Revolu- tionary movement, and whose daughter was the wife of Major Thomas Pinckney, then a prisoner, since Gates's de- feat, in the hands of the British. In addition to these con- siderations Lee had made the farmhouse in which Mrs. Motte resided outside the works his quarters, at her press- ing invitation, and with his officers had shared her liberal hospitality. Not only the lieutenant colonel, but every officer of his corps off duty had daily been entertained by Mrs. Motte, while she had also visited and ministered to the
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sick and wounded in the American camp. Nevertheless it was determined that the house must be burned. Taking the first opportunity which offered, the next morning Colonel Lee informed Mrs. Motte of the intended measure, lament- ing the necessity, and assuring her of the deep regret which it occasioned. The smile with which the communication was received gave instant relief to the embarrassed officer. Mrs. Motte not only assented, but declared that she was " gratified with the opportunity of contributing to the good of her country, and should view the approaching scene with delight." Shortly after, seeing accidentally the bow and arrows which had been prepared, she sent for Colonel Lee, and presenting him with a quiver of arrows im- ported from India, which ignited on percussion, she re- quested his substitution of these as probably better adapted for the object than those he had provided. Colonel Lee gladly accepted the offer, and everything was prepared for the concluding scene. The lines were manned and an additional force stationed at the battery, lest the enemy should determine to risk a desperate assault as offering the only chance of relief. As the troops reached their several points a flag was again sent to McPherson, summoning him to surrender. Dr. Irvine of the Legion was charged with the message, and instructed to communicate frankly the inevitable destruction impending, and the impractica- bility of relief, as Lord Rawdon had not yet passed the Santee. But the gallant young British officer in command of the post remained immovable, repeating his determina- tion of holding out to the last.
It was now about noon, and the scorching sun had pre- pared the shingle roof for an easy conflagration. The return of Irvine was immediately followed by a flight of the arrows. The first struck and communicated its fire ; a second was shot at another quarter of the roof; and a
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third at still another part of it. This last also took effect, and like the first soon kindled a blaze. McPherson, still undaunted, ordered a party to repair to the loft of the house, and by knocking off the shingles to stop the flames. This was stopped as soon as perceived, by Captain Finley, who was directed to open his battery, raking the loft from end to end. The fire of the six-pounder posted close to one of the gables soon drove the soldiers down, and no other efforts to stop the flames being practicable, McPherson hung out the white flag. To the charge that he had sub- jected himself to punishment by the idle waste of his antagonist's time and neglect of opportunities which had been presented to him of saving himself and garrison from unconditional submission, the British officer frankly ac- knowledged his situation, and declared his readiness to meet any consequence which the discharge of his duty, according to his own conviction of right, might entail. His gallantry was rewarded and terms were accorded him. His officers and himself accompanied their captors, and partook with them a sumptuous dinner, at which Mrs. Motte herself did the honors with unaffected politeness to friend and foe alike, regardless of the injury the necessi- ties of one and the duty of the other had caused, in the attempted destruction of her mansion.1 At the request of McPherson his officers and himself were paroled and sent off that evening to Lord Rawdon, then crossing the Santee at Nelson's Ferry.
1 Memoirs of the War of 1776, 345-348. The author has followed closely Colonel Lee's account of this interesting and romantic incident, and as Colonel Lee was present and a principal participator in the events, he must be deemed the best authority. James, in his Life of Marion, however, denies that the house was fired by arrows. He states that it was fired by a private in Marion's brigade, who slung a ball of rosin and brimstone on the roof (p. 120). Mrs. Ravenel in her Eliza Lucas, of Scribner's Women of Colonial and Revolutionary Times (p. 299), tells that
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Soon after the capitulation Greene, anxious for its suc- cess, attended by an escort of cavalry, reached Fort Motte for the purpose of learning precisely the situation. Find- ing the siege concluded, he returned to camp, having directed Marion, after placing the prisoners in security, to proceed against Georgetown, and ordering Lee to advance without delay upon Fort Granby, to which place his army would also move. Lee set out immediately with his de- tachment, composed of horse, foot, and artillery, and, marching without intermission, he approached the neigh- borhood of Fort Granby before dawn of the second day.
Fort Granby was erected on a plain which extended to the southern banks of the Congaree, near Friday's Ferry,1 on what is now the Lexington side of the river. Protected on one side by that river, it was accessible on every other quarter with facility. Colonel Lee in his Memoirs states that, being completely furnished with parapet, encircled by fosse and abatis, and being well garrisoned, it could not have been carried without considerable loss except by reg- ular approaches, and in this way would have employed the whole force of Greene for a week at least, in which period Lord Rawdon's interposition was practicable; that he there- fore determined to press to the conclusion of his operations with all possible celerity. As soon as he reached the neighborhood, relying upon the information of the guides,
the quiver of arrows had been given many years before to Mrs. Motte's brother Miles Brewton by the captain of an East Indiaman. Mrs. Rave- nel is a great-granddaughter of Rebecca Motte. The late Rev. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, D.D., a grandson of Mrs. Motte, in his Life of his grandfather, General Thomas Pinckney, states that the arrows were fired from rifles, not shot from bows, and in this Mrs. Ravenel's account agrees. Immediately upon the surrender the flames were extinguished and the house saved. See also note by A. S. Salley, Jr., editor So. Ca. Hist. and Gen. Mag., vol. II, 149-150.
1 Sometimes spelt Fridig's Ferry.
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he began to erect a battery in the margin of the woods to the west of the fort. The morning was uncommonly foggy, which fortunate circumstance gave time to finish the battery before it was perceived by the enemy. Cap- tain Finley with his six-pounder mounted in battery, was directed, as soon as the fog should disperse, to open upon the fort, when the infantry, ready for action, would ad- vance to gain the ground selected for the commencement of their approaches. The garrison consisted of 350 men, chiefly loyal militia commanded by Major Maxwell (a Loyalist from the eastern shore of Maryland) of the Prince of Wales's Regiment. This officer is represented as the exact opposite of McPherson, one disposed to avoid rather than to court the daring scenes of war. Zealous to fill his purse rather than to gather military laurels, he had during his command pursued his favorite object with con- siderable success, and held with him in the fort his gathered spoils. Lee states that, solicitous to hasten the surrender of the post, he determined to try the effect of negotiation with his pliable antagonist, and prepared a summons, couched in pompous terms, calculated to operate upon such an officer as Maxwell was represented to be. The sum- mons was intrusted to Captain Eggleston of the Legion, who was authorized to conclude finally upon the terms of capitulation if he found the enemy disposed to surrender.
The fog disappearing, Finley's gun announced the unex- pected proximity of Lee's command, and in the fort alarm and confusion followed. The Legion infantry advanced at the same time, and took possession of the desired ground without opposition, cutting off the enemy's pickets in that quarter of the fort. Eggleston, now setting out with his flag, caused a suspension of the fire, whereupon the enemy's pickets and patrols, so cut off, attempted to regain the fort. This effort was partially checked by the rapid move-
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ment of the cavalry, and an officer was despatched to Cap- tain Eggleston requiring him to remonstrate with Major Maxwell upon the impropriety of the conduct of his pickets and patrols, and to demand that he would order them to resume their stations. Eggleston's remonstrance was re- spected, and Maxwell sent his adjutant with the required orders. Negotiations were then begun, and Maxwell was himself inclined to accept the proposition submitted to him by Captain Eggleston; but after consulting with some of his officers, in turn he offered to deliver up the fort upon condition that private property of every sort, without inves- tigation of title, should be confirmed to its possessors; that the garrison should be permitted to return to Charlestown prisoners of war until exchanged; that the militia should be held in the same manner as the regulars, and that an escort charged with the protection of persons and of prop- erty should attend the prisoners to the British army.
The first condition, as it prevented the restoration of plundered property, Captain Eggleston did not think proper to accept, but submitted by letter the enemy's demands to Colonel Lee, with one from Major Maxwell re- quiring two covered wagons for the conveyance of his own baggage free from search. In reply Eggleston received directions to accede to the proposed terms, with the single exception of all horses fit for public service, and to expedite the conclusion of the business. This exception was not approved by many of Maxwell's officers, but was not resisted by him. Finding that the capitulation would be thus concluded, the Hessian officers in the garrison came in a body to Eggleston, protesting against proceeding with the negotiation unless they were permitted to retain their horses -a protest not to be overruled by the authority of Maxwell. The negotiation was suspended and a second time Eggleston found it necessary to refer to Lee. About
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this time, says that officer, a dragoon arrived with the information that Lord Rawdon had crossed the Santee, and was advancing towards Fort Motte. Had he deter- mined to resist the requisition of the Hessian officers, he adds, this intelligence would have induced a change in his decision. He directed Captain Eggleston to make known to the officers that he took pleasure in gratifying them by considering all horses belonging to individuals in the fort as private property, and claiming only such, if any, as belonged to the public.
This obstacle being removed, the capitulation was signed, and the principal bastion was immediately occupied by Captain Rudulph with a detachment of the Legion in- fantry. Before noon Maxwell with his garrison, con- sisting of 340 men (60 regulars, the rest Loyalists), the baggage of every sort, two pieces of artillery, and two covered wagons, moved from the fort, and the major with the garrison protected by the stipulated escort pro- ceeded on their route to Lord Rawdon. The public
stores, consisting chiefly of ammunition, salt, and liquors, were secured, and presented a valuable supply to the American army. The moment Maxwell surrendered Lee despatched an officer with the information to General Greene, who was then within a few miles of Friday's Ferry, just opposite the fort. The army continued its march to Ancrum's plantation near the ferry and the general, cross- ing the river, joined his light corps.
The tide of affairs had indeed turned in favor of the American cause. The posts of Camden, Orangeburgh, Fort Motte, and Balfour had all fallen within a few days. And yet it was in the midst of these brilliant achievements that the cause of liberty had nearly lost the services of its two principal supports in South Carolina. Both Marion and Sumter tendered to General Greene their resignations dur-
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ing these movements. In each instance the conduct of Colonel Lee was the cause of dissatisfaction.
Greene's greatest necessity and most pressing want was for horses upon which to mount his dragoons. As Congress had practically abandoned the Southern Depart- ment to its fate, he could obtain no horses to supply Washington's and Lee's men from that source; while the hard service to which the cavalry had been exposed in a country infested with Loyalists, and in which it was necessary to forage at a distance, had exhausted those he had. Thus it was that at the battle of Hobkirk's Hill but thirty-one out of eighty-seven dragoons could be mounted for service. As all the drafts made upon the States at this time were for specific supplies, Virginia, the great mart for good horses, had been called upon to supply a great number; and Greene's effort to obtain these animals had caused the interference of the legislature of that State, that put an end to all hopes of a supply from that quarter. From North Carolina he could get none. And so his despatches announcing his return to the State were accom- panied with calls upon Sumter and Marion, not only to raise men to join him without pay or reward, but to find horses for his Continental troops. Every letter which he addressed to these officers contained a demand to collect horses by impressment or otherwise. But from the very nature of the service horses were as essential to Sumter and Marion as they were to Greene himself. Their fol- lowers were volunteers with families, dependent upon them for support, who mounted their plough horses to ride upon expeditions, and when the immediate occasion was over returned to their fields. It was impossible to take these horses -indeed, to have attempted to do so would have driven their owners into the British camps. It was scarcely less politic or practicable to take the horses of
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those friends of independence whom age or necessity compelled to remain at home, for upon those depended the crops, the sole means of the support alike of the friendly inhabitants of the country and of the army. The only horses, therefore, available for general military pur- poses were those which could be taken from the British army or Loyalists. But neither Sumter nor Marion were disposed to be used in this matter as foragers and pur- veyors for the use of the Continental troops, who might at any time abandon the State to their care, as they had twice done before in the last year - and upon doing which for a third time Greene indeed was then actually deter- mined. If Washington and Lee needed horses, let them get them from Congress or themselves take them from the enemy. The horses Sumter and Marion captured they needed to mount volunteers or men who enlisted in the regiments they were endeavoring to raise for service in the State, upon which they could rely. Besides all this, they naturally resented the implication of haughty supe- riority with which they were thus ordered to furnish sup- plies for those who had not done more for the service of the country than themselves. While these sentiments were entertained the first open cause of offence was given to Marion.
Colonel Lee, in a letter to General Greene, wrote: " General Marion can supply you, if he will, with 150 good dragoon horses, most of them impressed horses. He might, in my opinion, spare 60, which would be a happy supply." Upon the receipt of this letter Greene became very excited, and wrote to Marion a communica- tion in which he is said to have made no effort to con- ceal or suppress his indignation that Marion, knowing his necessities and possessing the power to relieve them, should have failed to do so. In reply Marion repelled the VOL. IV. - R
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charge, and requested leave to resign, firmly but respect- fully intimating his determination to retire from the service as soon as he should have seen Fort Motte reduced, before which he was then lying with Lee. Greene perceived the mischief he had done, and by earnest and flattering solicita- tions, with difficulty succeeded in overcoming Marion's resolution. "My reasons for writing so pressingly respect- ing the dragoon horses," wrote Greene, "was the distress we were in. It is not my wish to take the horses from the militia if it will injure the public service; the effects and consequences you can better judge than I can." 1
Marion was pacified, turned the affair off upon grounds that proved his feelings soothed, and his answer to Greene's letter was accompanied with a fine horse for the general's own use. But from that time he gave up the siege to Lee, cooperating more to cover his operation than to direct him. In the meanwhile, his followers, taking the alarm at the idea of being dismounted, soon began to scatter, until his command was reduced to 150. With these, as soon as Fort Motte surrendered, he struck down towards Monck's Corner, and hung upon Rawdon's flanks during the whole of his retreat to that place.2
Having thus offended and repelled Marion, Lee's con- duct gave still greater offence to Sumter. The plan of operating against the posts on the west of Congaree, that is, Ninety Six, Granby, Motte, and Orangeburgh, had been Sumter's scheme, to which he was devoted, and in favor of which he had, with some difficulty, obtained the Com- mander-in-chief's concurrence. As early as the 2d of May, while Marion and Lee were endeavoring to intercept Watson, Sumter had commenced operations against Fort
1 Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 115, 116 ; Gibbes's Documentary Hist. (1781-82), 68.
2 Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 115, 116.
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Granby and Fort Motte. Regarding the fall of Granby a mere matter of time, he had left Colonel Taylor to cut off Maxwell's supplies and to continue the investment while he struck below, at the post at Orangeburgh. This he had successfully done, and had then been led away to secure the supplies in the country through which Rawdon must pass on the retreat which he had commenced from Cam- den. While thus engaged, Lee, having offended Marion, had carried off the honor of the reduction of Fort Motte, and Sumter now learned had proceeded to anticipate him in that of Granby. Sumter's disposition was not one which would brook interference ; nor was he without good reason in objecting to the regulars coming in at this time and taking from his followers the advantages and glory of a successful issue of the efforts they had made for the recovery of these posts, while the Continentals had been solicitous only of the security of their retreat after the loss of Hobkirk's Hill. Successes achieved by the volunteer soldiery, he thought, were far more efficacious in arousing and sustaining the spirit of resistance in the people of the States than victories by regulars. The former encouraged the wavering to side with their fellow-citizens who had thus shown themselves able to cope with the enemy with- out assistance. The latter, while good in themselves, added nothing to the confidence of the inhabitants in their own resources. Sumter had set his heart upon the capture of this post by his own troops without Continental assist- ance, not only for the material advantages to follow for them, but far more for the moral effect such achievement would produce. Not at all improbably there were mingled with these just sentiments for the public good, personal resentment that another should step in and deprive him of the honor which the plans he had so conceived and so steadfastly maintained were just about to bestow upon
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