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having arrived； a public meeting of this people was called； and it was
unanimously resolved to take up arms in defence of their country。 Major
James was desired to command them as heretofore； and they again arrayed
themselves under their captains William M‘Cottry； Henry Mouzon； John
James；* of the lake； and John M‘Cauley。 The four companies； resolved on
this great enterprise； consisted of about two hundred men。 Shortly after；
Col。 Hugh Giles； of Pedee； proposed to join them； with two companies；
Whitherspoon's and Thornly's； and his offer was gladly accepted。 Gen。
Gates had now arrived on the confines of the state； and in a consultation；
held among these officers； it was agreed to send to him； to appoint them a
commander。 This was a wise resolution； and attended with the most
salutary consequences。 In the mean time； they made prisoners of Col。
Cassels； Capt。 Gaskens； and most of the officers appointed over them by
the British； and took post at the pass of Lynch's creek； at Witherspoon's
ferry。 At this period； the tories on Lynch's creek； in the neighbourhood of
M‘Callum's ferry； had already begun their murders and depredations。
Messrs。 Matthew Bradley； Thomas Bradley； and John Roberts； respectable
citizens； who had then joined neither party； and also； some others； were
killed by them； in their own houses。 These were headed by the two
Harrisons； one afterwards a colonel； the other a major in the British
service； whom Tarleton calls men of fortune。 They were in fact two of the
greatest banditti that ever infested the country。 Before the fall of
Charleston they lived in a wretched log hut； by the road； near M‘Callum's；
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Life of Marion。
in which there was no bed…covering but the skins of wild beasts； during
the contest the major was killed； but after it was over； the colonel retired to
Jamaica； with much wealth； acquired by depredation。 Capt。 M‘Cottry was
now posted in advance of Witherspoon's ferry； at Indian town； and Col。
Tarleton； having crossed at Lenud's ferry； and hearing of the
Williamsburgh meeting； advanced； at the head of seventy mounted militia
and cavalry； to surprise Major James。 M‘Cottry； first receiving notice of
his movement； sent back for a reinforcement； and immediately marched
his company； of about fifty mounted militia； to give him battle。 Tarleton
had been posted at dark； at the Kingstree； and M‘Cottry approached him at
midnight； but Tarleton marched away a few hours before he arrived。 By
means of the wife of Hamilton； the only tory in that part of the country； he
had gained intelligence of M‘Cottry's approach； as reported to him； with
five hundred men。 The latter pursued； but； perhaps fortunately； without
overtaking him。 In this route Tarleton burnt the house of Capt。 Mouzon；
and after posting thirty miles； from Kingstree up to Salem； took Mr。 James
Bradley prisoner； the next day。 Soon after this Lieut。 Col。 Hugh Horry
arrived from Georgetown； and by right he would have had the command
of Major James' party； but he declined it for some time。 Of him more will
be said hereafter。 On the 10th or 12th of August； General Marion arrived at
the post； at Lynch's creek； commissioned by Governor Rutledge to take the
command of the party there； and a large extent of country on the east side
of Santee。 He was a stranger to the officers and men； and they flocked
about him； to obtain a sight of their future commander。** He was rather
below the middle stature of men； lean and swarthy。 His body was well set；
but his knees and ankles were badly formed； and he still limped upon one
leg。 He had a countenance remarkably steady； his nose was aquiline； his
chin projecting； his forehead was large and high； and his eyes black and
piercing。 He was now forty…eight years of age； but still even at this age； his
frame was capable of enduring fatigue and every privation； necessary for a
partisan。 His wisdom and patriotism will become henceforth conspicuous。
Of a character； so much venerated； even trifles become important。 He was
dressed in a close round bodied crimson jacket； of a coarse texture； and
wore a leather cap； part of the uniform of the second regiment； with a
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Life of Marion。
silver crescent in front； inscribed with the words； 〃Liberty or death。〃 He
was accompanied by his friend Col。 Peter Horry； and some other officers。
On the second or third day after his arrival； General Marion ordered his
men to mount white cockades； to distinguish themselves from the tories；
and crossed the Pedee； at Port's ferry； to disperse a large body of tories；
under Major Ganey； stationed on Britton's neck； between great and little
Pedee。 He surprised them at dawn in the morning； killed one of their
captains and several privates； and had two men wounded。 Major James
was detached at the head of a volunteer troop of horse； to attack their
horse； he came up with them； charged； and drove them before him。 In this
affair； Major James singled out Major Ganey； （as he supposed） as the
object of his single attack。 At his approach Ganey fled； and he pursued
him closely； and nearly within the reach of his sword； for half a mile；
when behind a thicket； he came upon a party of tories； who had rallied。
Not at all intimidated； but with great presence of mind； Major James called
out； 〃Come on my boys！ Here they are！ Here they are！〃 And the
whole body of tories broke again； and rushed into little Pedee swamp。
Another party of tories lay higher up the river； under the command of Capt。
Barefield； who had been a soldier in one of the South Carolina regiments。
These stood to their ranks； so well； and appeared to be so resolute； that
Gen。 Marion did not wish to expose his men； by an attack on equal terms；
he therefore feigned a retreat； and led them into an ambuscade； near the
Blue Savannah； where they were defeated。 This was the first manoeuvre of
the kind； for which he afterwards became so conspicuous。
* He was second cousin to the major。 Of this family； there were five
brothers； than whom no men under Marion were more brave； these were
J