With the Swamp Fox

know exactly what part he bore in freeing the colonies from the burdens put upon them by

rged that I make a record of what we did while serving under General Francis Marion, that ardent patri

the door being locked upon him in order that he might be forced to drink, General Marion-then only a colonel-leaped from

de it may appear to those better versed in the use of the pen, it is the best I can do. My brother and myself went into General Marion's camp before our fourteenth birthday, and since that time have studied the art of warfare i

o-meaning Percy and myself-can honestly c

linas. She married a Sumter, who died while yet we twins were in the cradle, and, therefore, we were come to look upon ourselves as true members of the James family, rather than Sumters, pridin

is no other way of telling plainly what Percy and I were so fortunate as to accomplish under General Marion, than t

rther understood how we lads came to be known as scouts in the service of the "S

e of independence voluntarily made of themselves exiles, despairing of being able to wrest their native col

r Henry Clinton, offering pardon to the inhabitants and

take up arms against those of the northern colonies who were yet holding their own against oppression, the condition of affairs seem

t the matter might be made plain, the people of Williamsburg, in the colony of South Ca

eorgetown, and the comman

demand that the people of South Carolina "submit themselves to the king," and if, after havi

ld be whipped into subjection, rather than men who were able and willing to defend the

undeserving, for you all ought to be hanged: but it is

with greater wisdom; but, unacquainted with our family, he could have made no gre

ome to represent will scarce

ssion, giving no heed to the possibility that it

peak in such language I will have you hung up at the yard-arm," and

been allowed to pass unnoticed, but those who know my uncle could have told th

rb such as is worn by us of Williamsburg, carried no wea

ng him senseless with a single blow, and then making his escape at once, for the

came the enrolment of that body of true gentlemen and noble soldiers who were afterward known, and t

ok command of these volunteers, and they were d

hn of the Lake-another branch of the James family, and an uncle to the major-was

resentative of his majesty at Georgetown were all residents of the district of Williamsburg, and were rendezvoused on

rstand how it chanced that we two lads played so important a part-for circumstances put it in our way to do good work-in the str

movements of this brigade which my uncle commanded, expecting that such deeds of valor would be p

Williamsburg district, and our hearts were filled with disappointment because it appeared to us that thereby

reaking his bones, rather than join a party of gentlemen in their drinking, and were burning with curiosity,

ious regarding him as we two nephews of the man

colonel, and expected much of him as a general; but we lads were more than disappoin

-bodied, crimson jacket, and, perched upon his head was a leathern cap ornament

ountries, and had rather more than a vague idea of what a uniform should be. Therefore this grotesque costume-for I can call it by no other name-impr

he men of Williamsburg had a military organization numbering, perhaps

ided with small-bore rifles. Each man had, perhaps, his horn filled with powder; but no more than that, and, as I have heard my uncle say tim

ad muskets or rifle balls which they themselves had molded; othe

h General Marion issued after arriving at Lynch's Creek, caused me to ha

king the saw mills in the immediate vicinity. Nothing was to be taken away from them save the s

g, we set out, forming an "independent command of two," as Percy put it, bound for a certain mill owned by one Pingree, who had a

et it led to our being brought into direct, and I migh

ork of saw gathering, for the major was at the head of the family in good truth, and whatsoev

so far as might be possible, and our mother at once saw that we were provided with s

med of it; but such information we were not minded to give lest th

fles which during no less than half a dozen years had served us in a

g of it. Suffice it to say that after a tramp of ten miles or more, when we had crossed the Pedee River at Port's Ferry and were at Pin

ith whom we had had little intercourse because of his associating much with the king's soldiers; there had never been

o far from home, and on our part we wond

vely we closed our mouths on his approach, which was at the very moment when

Percy at once resented by closing his mouth closely, while I, little dreaming what info

comes our way is

o find fur or feathe

why it should be done, I put a curb upon my tongue

h a blazing sun as shines to-day, an

he said in a tone which caused me to believe it was w

erous for some, and no

istrict do not boast of their relationship

and was capable of carrying it out, else the cowardly lad who

understood from the meaning look he gave me, and t

him to further speec

ave greater reason to be proud of its members,

he good which is in others, and I have heard it said that not one of the J

admit that such a king as now claims the right to rule over us, was even our equal." Percy

ied menacingly, but taking good care m

rn that the James family canno

us that lesson?" Perc

than Major Ga

w in Charleston, teach us

d of a body of Loyalists so large that the people of Williamsburg wi

o that, than have ever been found in the Caroli

great deeds he claims to be able to perform, have yet much to learn regarding the Loya

rn. "You know full well, Sam Lee, that such a numb

Marion, near to that number of men, and before a week has passed ever

your kidney? After all that has taken place in this colony, a Tory would do well to have a care ov

ter, for I have but to raise my voice

thing very like timorousness in my heart as the Tory lad spoke, for I kne

y certain there must be a strong gathering in the neighborhood, and he would have been a dull lad indeed who cou

ent in my mind I was burning wi

back a goodly store of saws that our neighbo

Sam Lee as quickly as might be, without arou

matter, however, t

that by multiplying words he gives yet further weight to his argument, the fellow launched f

what was little less than threats, and, seizing Percy by the hand lest in his anger he

particularly if there are so many traitors to their country in this vicinity as you would have us believe. We bid

e, Percy leaped

"Before a week has passed I venture to predict the king's enemies in William

nched himself free from my

d be said that two of us set upon one, thinking that while it might be imprudent for my brother t

reat trampling in the underbrush; then came into view two score or more of men in the king