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without the presence of its commander； and as in that day there was no
road from Kingstree up Black river to Camden； and the swamps were
impassable except to hunters； by taking a position at Scott's lake； they
would be on the only road there was from Georgetown； on a direct line； to
intercept Watson； as he marched up to Camden。 But while Gen。 Marion
passed through Williamsburgh； his men having now performed a tour of
duty of more than a month against Watson； which with all its watchings
and privations was unusually severe； and being suddenly relieved from
that pressure； many of them took the liberty of going home to recruit
themselves； and he was left to his great mortification with only eighty men。
However； they soon dropped in； one or two at a time。*
* Gen。 Greene's elegant letter to Marion； 9th May。
On the 15th of April； Gen。 Marion invested Fort Watson； at Scott's lake；
without any other means of annoyance than musketry。 The fort stood on an
Indian mound； about forty feet high； and was stockaded； and had three
rows of abbatis round it。* The besiegers took post between the fort and the
lake； to cut off the water； but the besieged sunk a well in the fort。 As there
were no trees or other covering near the fort； Marion's riflemen were too
much exposed at first to fire with effect； but Col。 Maham contrived to
raise a tower of logs in one night； so high that it overtopped the fort； and
the marksmen began to fire into it。 Gen。 Marion had no entrenching tools
to make a regular approach； but on the day after the investment； a party of
militia under Ensign Baker Johnson； and of continentals under Mr。 Lee； a
volunteer in the legion； with a sudden movement； and much intrepidity；
made a lodgment near the stockade； and began to pull away the abbatis
and fling them down the mound。 Lieut。 M‘Kay； who commanded； then
hoisted a white flag； and the garrison； consisting of one hundred and
fourteen men and officers； capitulated。 Major Eaton had been detached by
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Life of Marion。
Gen。 Greene； with one field piece； to join Marion； but arrived too late to
participate in this siege。 The loss of the Americans was only two militia
men killed； and three continentals and three militia wounded。 As this
fort lay on the great line of communication between Camden and
Charleston； its fall was a great loss to the enemy； and by taking it Gen。
Marion obtained supplies of ammunition； which he soon turned to great
advantage。
* Marion's letter； 23d April。
During the siege； Col。 Watson evaded Marion and Lee。 Having arrived
in Georgetown； and not yet recovered from his panic； he crossed the north
and south Santee； at the lower ferries； and having surmounted this
difficulty； he marched up the west side of the river and arrived in Camden
by the way of the ferry near the town； with forces much impaired by the
incessant attacks of Marion； and long marches； combined with much
desertion； but his loss is not confessed by the enemy； nor could it be
discovered by the Americans。 Had he been able to have cooperated with
Doyle in sufficient time； with their overwhelming force； assisted by
Harrison and Ganey； with an equal； if not greater number of tories； there
can be little doubt； but Gen。 Marion with his scanty means of defence；
must either have fallen in the conflict or been driven out of the country。
When he first marched from Scott's lake； Col。 Watson had only seventy
miles to traverse； and only Black river to pass； before he reached Snow's
island； yet such was the consummate skill and indefatigable exertions of
Gen。 Marion； that from the 9th of March until the 10th of April； he had not
reached his place of destination； and then made a hasty retreat through
roads unfrequented； and over wide swamps and rivers； unpursued。 To
effect this he took a circuitous route； nearly one hundred miles out of his
way； which detained him until about the 9th of May； more than two
months from his first setting out on this expedition。
Col。 Watson was considered by the British one of their best partisans；
yet we have seen how he was foiled。 Had his regiment attempted； as was
no doubt intended； to ford the river at the lower bridge； they would have
found the passage narrow； and the river at that time deep； or had he
undertaken to repair the bridge； in either case he must have lost a great
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Life of Marion。
portion of his men。 He was； however； a better officer than historian or
civilian； otherwise he would not have justified the practice of burning
houses； in the face of the universal censure cast upon Lewis XIV。 for
adopting the same measure in the Palatinate。 But when Watson； Balfour；
and other British officers； professing to know the laws of war and nations；
burnt houses and hanged those citizens who had taken deceptive paroles
upon their authority； certainly it may be affirmed that Marion； who was
self…taught； and had no book of the law of nations； or perhaps any other
book in his camp； was justifiable as a matter of retaliation； to shoot down
their pickets and cut off their sentinels wherever he could find them； and
always to fight such invaders in their own barbarian manner。 Nothing ever
showed； in such a strong light； the plain good sense of Marion。 Col。
Watson had orders to burn houses； but did not however appear to wish to
carry them rigourously into effect。 It is believed he burnt but two； one was
the house of Lieut。 Dickson； who was with Marion； the other belonged to
Nathaniel Dwight； of Waccamaw neck。 Upon a retrospection； Col。
Watson's character appears in a favourable point of view； and； as far as
was consistent with orders； his humanity is undoubted。
On the 18th of April； Col。 William Harden； acting under the orders of
Marion； took the British fort at Pocotaligo； with one militia colonel； one
major； three captains； three lieutenants； sixty privates and twenty…two
dragoons； prisoners。 He writes； 〃I wish you would send so