Fox Chasing Hound
By this point in March 1781, the British leader Watson had been the most persistent adversary to date for Marion and his men. Marion was still adamant about getting John Postell released before he was executed by the British as having violated his parole. Marion kept the letters flying even as he kept harassing Watson and his men but eventually Marion would choose to stop all communications and let actions speak louder than words.
1) By March 18th Watson's men were sick, tired and hungry. The foraging efforts were hampered by Marion's sharpshooters and so Watson decided to leave the Blakely's Plantation. After two weeks of tracking down the fox it was time get get his men provisions. Marion's men destroyed three bridges and felled trees to keep Watson away from Snow's Island. As Watson started to move he could either stay in the swamp and fight or run. At this point, the fox started chasing the hound, Marion from behind and Peter Horry from in front. Georgetown was Watson's destination for rum, salt, shoes, food and ammo from the British supplied port. Nine miles from his destination on March 20th Watson found his progress impeded by destroyed bridges yet again. Caught crossing the river the British were exposed. Grapeshot and bayonets were the Brit's desperate response but lost 20 men with 40 wounded and Watson's horse shot out from under him. Marion's forces decided not to pursue Watson into British held Georgetown even though they only had one killed in this latest action. While the Bridges Campaign was over, the psychological impact was substantial. Watson complained that Marion would not fight out in the open like gentleman and would not sleep at night, instead continued to harass Watson's troops with yelping and carrying on. The resistance of the rebels kept resources in the South, prolonged the war and left the British extremely frustrated.
2) Marion and his men started making their way back to base camp when they found out on March 26th that the British leader Doyle had destroyed Snow's Island. A local Tory had led the British to Marion's lair. Within a week the press (yes, influential even in 1781 to bend the common people's opinions) touted this as a major victory for the British. Marion's men were now in pursuit of Doyle's inland and to the west as Doyle had been recalled to Camden, SC. Marion's men harassed them all the way there on April 1st but then had to call it off as Camden was fortified as well as Georgetown was.
3) A frustrated Marion issued an order that said anyone refusing to serve in his brigade would be considered an enemy of the state with their property subject to confiscation. In reality, like other orders Marion issued, they served more as a deterrent than an edict to be enforced. Marion knew it was a fine line that could have a fine rebel turn into a Tory.
4) Watson, renewed by supplies in Georgetown started off towards Marion once more and was joined by Ganey. Watson was within five miles of Marion's men who had two round of ammo per person at this low point after the Bridges Campaign and losing much at Snow's (even though most was dumped in the creek by the wounded there to keep the British from benefiting too much).
5) Marion's force was now approaching 100 men total and held a war counsel that considered a move into NC or into the mountains. Not one for speeches, the men said they would follow Marion anywhere he led. As the somber realities of the day were setting in, riders arrived with joyous news that Greene had thwarted Cornwallis at Guilford Courthouse in NC and that Green was heading to SC to liberate the state! The bonus was that Lighthorse Harry Lee was on his way back to join Marion. April 1781 was shaping up to be a good month after all for the cause.
The next chapter will blow your socks off :)
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