A Sketch of the life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion Part 12

Gen. Greene to Gen. Marion.

_Camp, at Halifax Court House, Virginia, Feb. 16, 1781._

Dear Sir,

I have seen your letter to Gen. Huger of the 6th inst. and am surprised that Col. Baker or Capt. Snipes should pretend that they had my directions for crossing the Santee. I beg you will encourage the militia and engage them to continue their exertions.--If the supplies expected from the northward arrive in season, we shall be able to a.s.sist you. The movements of the enemy were so rapid, that few of the militia joined us on our march from Pedee, which reduced us to the necessity of pa.s.sing the Dan, or risking an action on very unequal terms. The enemy are upon the banks of the river, but the people of this country appear to be in earnest. I hope we shall soon be able to push Lord Cornwallis in turn. I wrote to you from Guilford, which I hope you have received.

I am, dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, N. Greene.

Gen. Marion to Lieut. Col. Balfour.

_Santee, March 7, 1781._

Sir,

I sent Capt. John Postell with a flag to exchange some prisoners, which Capt. Saunders, commandant of Georgetown, had agreed to, but contrary to the law of nations, he has been seized and detained as a prisoner. As I cannot imagine that his conduct will be approved of by you, I hope orders will be immediately given to have my flag discharged, or I must immediately acquaint congress of this violation. The ill consequence of which it is now in your power to prevent. I am sorry to complain of the ill treatment my officers and men meet with from Capt. Saunders; the officers are closely employed in a small place, where they can neither stand or lie at length, nor have they more than half rations. I have treated your officers and men who have fallen into my hands in a different manner. Should these evils not be prevented in future, it will not be in my power to prevent retaliation. Lord Rawdon and Col. Watson have hanged three men of my brigade for supposed crimes, which will make as many of your men in my hands suffer. I hope this will be prevented in future, for it is my wish to act with humanity and tenderness to those unfortunate men, the chances of war may throw in my power.

I have the honour to be Your obedient servant, Francis Marion.

Gen. Marion to Col. Watson, of the British.

_Santee, March 7, 1781._

Sir,

Enclosed is a letter which I wish may be forwarded as soon as possible.

I make no doubt but that you will be surprised to see a flag sent at the head of an armed party. The reason of it is, that Capt. Saunders, commandant of Georgetown, has violated the law of nations, by taking, detaining and imprisoning Capt. Postell, who carried prisoners to exchange, which was agreed to by him. The hanging of prisoners and the violation of my flag will be retaliated if a stop is not put to such proceedings, which are disgraceful to all civilized nations. All of your officers and men who have fallen into my hands, have been treated with humanity and tenderness; and I wish sincerely that I may not be obliged to act contrary to my inclinations; but such treatment as my unhappy followers, whom the chances of war may throw in the hands of my enemies receive, such may those expect who fall in my hands.

I have the honour to be Your obedient servant, Francis Marion.

Extract of a Letter from Gov. J. Rutledge to Gen. Marion.

_Camp, at Haw River, March 8, 1781._

I have not yet received the blank militia commissions I expected out.

If I do not get some before I arrive at Richmond, I will there have some printed and transmitted to you. In the mean time you will give brevets, _and in order that you may carry sufficient authority over the several officers in your brigade, you may remove any of them, and appoint others in their stead, from time to time, as you think proper._

Col. N. Balfour to Brig. Gen. Marion.

_Charleston, March 12, 1781._

Sir,

I have received your letter of the 7th inst. respecting the detention of Capt. John Postell, when charged with a flag of truce to Georgetown, and complaining of the same as a breach of the law of nations. The best answer I can return to which is the transmission of his parole, which will clearly evince that the breach of such law, as well as those of honour, rest solely with that gentleman, who has acted in a military capacity when engaged by the most solemn ties to remain in a state of neutrality.

Col. Balfour to Gen. Marion.

_Charleston, March 21, 1781._

Sir,

I am greatly astonished to find that you have detained one of our officers,* sent out with a flag of truce to you, and acting under its sanction; this is indeed an infraction of the laws of nations and of war, as you complain of in the case of Capt. Postell, and such a one as if not immediately redressed I shall be obliged to punish in the most exemplary manner by the severest retaliation. If in this action you could have alluded to the case of Capt. Postell, my letter of the 12th inst. must surely have convinced you, how truly dissimilar they are in every respect; but as from such conduct I must conceive, Sir, this letter may not have reached you, I now enclose a copy for your information and conviction. Let me observe, as faith had been violated by Capt. Postell, he naturally became to us an object for capture and punishment, under whatsoever circ.u.mstances he might be met, and to argue from his justifiable detention, a right to extend the like to those most unimpeachably upright in their conduct, is a confounding of right and wrong, and a violation of all principles under which any intercourse can subsist between powers at war with each other.

* Capt. Merritt.

I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, N. Balfour.

Col. Watson to Gen. Marion.

_Blakely's, March 15, 1781._

Sir,

The very extraordinary method you took of sending the letter I received from you, makes it rather difficult to guess in what way you mean to carry on this war, and therefore induces me to take the mode of addressing you through a neutral person. The bearer is a little boy of John Witherspoon's. We have an officer and some men wounded, whom I should be glad to send where they could be better taken care of. I wish therefore to know if they will be permitted to pa.s.s, without interruption from any of your parties, to Charleston.

Yours, &c. (Signed) John Watson.

P.S.--If you have no objection to their going, you will be so good as to send a pa.s.s for them.