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native of Massachusetts； and of the town there whence he took his title；
also that he became after this a celebrated philosopher； and especially in
economics； his writings have been of great use to the world。 It is a pity
that the career of such a man should have commenced in hostility to his
native country。 His life has been published； but we have not yet had the
pleasure of reading it； and perhaps it may not contain the following
anecdote。 After his dashing success at the Santee he formed a grand
scheme； which was no less than that of surprising Gen。 Greene in his camp
at Ashley hill。 To effect this he must either have crossed Ashley river over
Bacon bridge； at Dorchester； which was too well secured for a sudden
attack of cavalry； or he must cross the river at Ashley ferry； ten miles from
town。 He determined on the latter； and put his four troops of cavalry in
motion。 When he arrived at the ferry it was ebb of tide； the water was
running out as from a millsluice； the banks on each side were so miry as
scarcely to support a crab the river was at least one hundred yards wide；
and there was not a boat。 He however ordered Major Fraser to lead on
the first troop into the river and swim across。 Fraser viewed him for some
time with astonishment； suspecting him not to be in his sober senses。 But
finding he appeared so； he said to him； 〃Why； Sir； I am not in the habit of
disputing； or hesitating to perform any order given by my commander； but
this thing is utterly impossible。〃 〃How so；〃 said Thompson； 〃it may be
difficult but not impossible； and if we do not attempt difficult things we
shall never be distinguished。 Alexander swam across the Granicus； beat
the Persians and immortalized himself。〃 〃And it would no doubt
immortalize you；〃 replied Fraser； 〃if you could swim the Ashley； and
surprise Gen。 Greene； but let us put the matter to the test。 Here is Serjt。
Allen； the best trooper and the best swimmer in the corps； and here is my
horse that cost me one hundred guineas。 Let Allen try it first； better that he
than that all should be lost。〃 The proposition was agreed to。 Allen was
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Life of Marion。
mounted on the major's charger； and was ordered to swim the river。 〃I'll
try；〃 said he； 〃since the colonel orders it but the Lord have mercy upon
me；〃 and having so said； he plunged into the river。 As might have been
expected； the current swept him a quarter of a mile below the landing on
the opposite side； he attempted to land there； but the fine horse was
swallowed up in the marsh； and Allen escaped with the utmost difficulty。 …
… This was the last notice we have of Col。 Thompson （Count Rumford） in
this country： he was a burning meteor but soon disappeared。*
* Count Rumford told professor Pictet； of Geneva； many years after；
that he had never been able to efface from his imagination； the horrid
spectacle of the dead and wounded upon these occasions。 See Pictet's
Tour in England； p。 212。
After the defeat at Wambaw； Gov。 Matthews； having taken much pains
to find out from Gen。 Marion who was the best cavalry officer of the two；
Horry or Maham； incorporated the two regiments and gave the command
to the latter。 The preference appears to have been extorted from Marion。
The fact was that Horry； though said to be a good infantry officer； failed in
one most essential requisite in the command of cavalry； and that was
horsemanship。 In several charges he made； it is said he was indebted to
some one or other of his men for saving his life； yet possessing great
personal bravery； his supreme delight was always to be at the head of
cavalry。 From the commencement of this narrative； his patriotism has been
conspicuous： in fact； his property was wasted and his life often exposed in
the cause of his country； and few men were more devoted to her than Col。
Peter Horry。 He now resigned； but as some consolation； Gen。 Marion
made him commandant of Georgetown； with full powers to regulate its
trade and defend it from the enemy。 It was from thence and Cainhoy； that
Gen。 Marion after long perseverance； got much clothing for Greene's army。
But Col。 P。 Horry； instead of leaving trade to flow into Georgetown as
freely as the tides which passed before him； put it under such restrictions
that the merchants soon began to murmur。 About the 20th of April； there
was an alarm excited among the civil authority of the state； that the British
in Charleston had been reinforced and were about to attack Gen。 Greene。
Gov。 Matthews immediately wrote to order Gen。 Marion to his assistance。
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Life of Marion。
He lay at that time near Murray's ferry； his men had been dismounted by
an order from the same authority； and they now set out for Bacon's bridge
on foot for the first time。 When they reached within eight miles； the alarm
had subsided； but another had taken place； that the enemy had sailed for
Georgetown； and the governor ordered Marion there。 After a forced march
of four days he arrived at White's bridge； but there was no enemy near
Georgetown。 In this march of about one hundred and sixty miles； Marion's
men had but one ration of rice； all the rest were of lean beef driven out of
the woods in the month of April。 As Ganey's party had been troublesome
to the people of North Carolina； and had not observed the treaty of
neutrality with Gen。 Marion； made June 17th； 1781； a joint expedition was
concerted between Gov。 Matthews； of South and Gov。 Martin of North
Carolina； to subdue them。* Of this expedition Gen。 Marion was to have
the command。 His very name was sufficient for the purpose intended。 At
Burch's mill on Pedee； a treaty was signed； （June 1782） by which Ganey's
party agreed to lay down their arms as enemies of the state； to demean
themselves hereafter as peaceable citizens； to deliver up all stolen property；
to apprehend all who did not accede to the treaty now made； to take all
deserters from the American army and deliver them up； to return to their
allegiance and abjure that of his Britannic majesty。 From this treaty；
Gibson； who killed Col。 Kolb； and Fanning and his party were excepte